Sydney, NSW – February 24, 2025 – A catastrophic accident involving a truck and a car on Spit Bridge in Mosman has led to major traffic disruptions and a dramatic emergency response this morning. The serious collision, which occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m., resulted in a driver being trapped in the wreckage, prompting the urgent deployment of emergency services, including Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police, and NSW Ambulance teams. In a sign of the gravity of the situation, an ambulance helicopter was also dispatched to the scene to assist in the complex rescue effort and potential medical evacuation.

Spit Bridge Traffic Chaos: Major Delays and Road Closures

As emergency teams continue their highly coordinated rescue operation, the accident has brought severe congestion to the Spit Bridge area, one of Sydney’s busiest commuter routes. Authorities have been forced to close two out of three outbound lanes, significantly affecting traffic flow during peak morning hours.

Motorists have been advised to avoid the area, as delays are expected to persist for several hours while responders work meticulously to free the trapped driver and clear the wreckage. Sydney commuters using the Military Road and Spit Road corridor are experiencing lengthy detours and travel disruptions, with transport authorities urging drivers to seek alternative routes or rely on public transport if possible.

A Scene of Devastation: Car ‘Completely Crushed’ in Impact

Eyewitness reports, including those from the Manly Observer, describe the aftermath of the collision as horrific, with the trapped driver’s vehicle completely crushed under the truck. The devastating impact left the car’s roof caved in, with mangled metal and shattered glass strewn across the bridge.

While initial assessments suggest that the trapped driver has miraculously sustained only minor injuries, medical experts remain cautiously concerned. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Andrew Bewberry underscored the urgency of the situation, warning that such injuries can quickly escalate due to delayed internal trauma.

“The driver is severely trapped,” said Bewberry. “While injuries currently appear minor, we know these things can escalate. Time is critical.”

Emergency Teams Deploy Advanced Rescue Tactics

As the tense rescue operation continues, specialist emergency responders are employing a range of technical rescue techniques to carefully cut, push, and pry the vehicle apart, allowing safe extraction of the trapped motorist.

Using hydraulic rescue tools, commonly known as the ‘Jaws of Life’, firefighters are carefully dismantling the vehicle piece by piece, taking extreme care not to cause additional injury to the occupant. A trauma response team, including critical care paramedics and emergency doctors, remains on standby, ready to administer immediate medical intervention once the driver is freed from the wreckage.

According to NSW Fire and Rescue officials, operations of this complexity require precision, patience, and coordination between multiple agencies. Any sudden movements or miscalculations could result in structural collapses within the vehicle or aggravation of injuries.

Traffic Mayhem: Commuters Urged to Expect Lengthy Delays

The accident has triggered major commuter delays, with Spit Bridge—one of Sydney’s key transport links—completely clogged with traffic. The congestion has cascaded down Military Road, affecting traffic as far back as Neutral Bay and North Sydney.

Transport authorities are implementing detours, diverting vehicles through alternate routes, but delays remain unavoidable due to the sheer volume of affected commuters. Public transport users have also been impacted, as bus routes 178, 180, 245, and 247 have experienced significant schedule delays due to rerouted traffic.

Authorities are urging motorists to stay informed via Live Traffic NSW updates and to consider using ferries or trains to bypass the gridlock.

Miracle Survival? Driver’s Condition Still Uncertain

Despite the severity of the crash and the total destruction of the vehicle, Superintendent Bewberry has described the driver’s survival as “a miracle at this stage.” However, he stressed that the full extent of the injuries is yet to be determined.

Medical professionals warn that crash survivors often experience adrenaline-fueled responses, which can mask serious conditions such as internal bleeding, spinal injuries, and head trauma. Once freed from the wreckage, the driver will be rushed to a nearby hospital for a comprehensive assessment and necessary treatment.

Witness Accounts: ‘A Loud Bang and Chaos on the Bridge’

Several eyewitnesses described hearing a deafening crash, followed by the immediate aftermath of screeching brakes, shouting, and panicked motorists exiting their vehicles to assess the wreckage.

Emma Clarkson, a local commuter who was driving behind the accident, recounted the terrifying moment: “One minute everything was normal, and the next, there was this massive bang. I saw the truck swerving, and then the car—it was just gone, crushed beneath it. I pulled over, and I could see people rushing to help, but there was nothing we could do.”

Other witnesses reported that several drivers immediately ran towards the scene, some attempting to communicate with the trapped driver, while others called emergency services. A passing off-duty paramedic was one of the first responders on-site, helping assess the situation while awaiting the arrival of fire and rescue teams.

Authorities Launch Investigation Into Cause of the Crash

As emergency services work to free the driver and clear the wreckage, NSW Police have launched an official investigation into the cause of the crash. Early reports suggest that speed, mechanical failure, or driver error could have played a role, but authorities are not ruling out any possibilities.

Investigators will analyze:

• Traffic camera footage from Spit Bridge and surrounding areas
• Witness testimonies from nearby motorists and pedestrians
• Vehicle damage and mechanical inspections to assess potential malfunctions
• Weather and road conditions at the time of the accident

Authorities have also urged any witnesses with dashcam footage to come forward and assist in piecing together the sequence of events leading up to the crash.

The Spit Bridge: A Notorious Traffic Bottleneck

The Spit Bridge, spanning Middle Harbour, is a well-known choke point for Sydney motorists, regularly experiencing traffic congestion during peak hours. Designed as a bascule bridge, it opens to allow marine traffic to pass, further complicating traffic management.

Over the years, Spit Bridge has been the site of several major traffic incidents, often involving heavy vehicles and high-speed collisions. Calls for infrastructure improvements have been ongoing, with some experts advocating for an upgrade to a permanent high-level bridge to alleviate congestion and improve safety.

Final Thoughts: A Race Against Time

As emergency crews continue their intense rescue operation, the situation remains fluid and urgent. Authorities are working tirelessly to safely extract the trapped driver, provide critical medical attention, and restore normal traffic flow as soon as possible.

For now, the Sydney community waits anxiously, hoping for a successful rescue and recovery. As the investigation unfolds, further updates will shed light on what led to this devastating accident and how future tragedies can be prevented.

Stay Updated

This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Motorists are advised to follow Live Traffic NSW and local news sources for the latest updates on the situation at Spit Bridge.