By Casey Neill
A cement mixer separated from its truck body and landed in a Dandenong South creek in a crash that trapped a driver for 90 minutes.
Ambulance Victoria said the man was air lifted to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition with serious pelvic injuries.
Hallam Fire Station officer Ugur Ali said his crew arrived at the scene at Produce Drive and Abbotts Road just after 9am on Tuesday 13 December.
“When we got on scene, there was a cement truck rolled over on its side,” he said.
He said a bridge guardrail had stopped the truck body from following the mixer to the bottom of the creek.
“It did a fair bit of damage to the bridge,” Mr Ali said.
“We provided fire protection and rescue and got him out of there.
“It was complicated because it was right up against the railing on the bridge.
“Some of the guys had really, really limited access to him.
“There was a fair bit of cement around which was starting to set.
“The guys were walking through that, plus there was the heat.”
Mr Ali said VicRoads, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria, Greater Dandenong Council and police were also on-scene.
“We had the Dandenong rescue team turn up along with SES from Frankston,” he said.
“The rescue involved cutting the roof of the truck off.
“I believe the gentleman was trapped by the steering wheel as well, once they made access to him.
“The guys cut the steering wheel away and we were able to put him onto a spine board and onto a stretcher.
“It was a fairly technical one.”
