8 hours ago
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All outbound lanes of the Monash Freeway have been closed after a crash in which a truck brought down a light pole.
Delays of more than two hours on the freeway are being reported, with traffic stretching back to the Burnley Tunnel.
Motorists have been warned of delays of two hours, with traffic banked back as far as the Burnley Tunnel.Credit: Nine News
Police say the driver is in a critical condition in hospital after crashing into a centre median strip of the freeway near Huntingdale Road in Mount Waverley around 2.20pm on Wednesday.
The Department of Transport said all outbound lanes of the Monash Freeway were closed between Warrigal Road and Forster Road.
“Motorists are being sent off the freeway at Warrigal Road where they can then use the Princes Highway, Ferntree Gully Road and re-enter the freeway at Forster or Blackburn roads,” it said.
“Motorists should exit the outbound lanes of the Monash Freeway as early as possible and head for Dandenong Road.
“This closure is under the control of emergency services, and lanes will open as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Transport Victoria’s Dan Belling told radio station 3AW the B-Double truck hit a number of cars and ruptured its fuel tank after hitting the light pole.
“We’ve got a light pole down across three lanes, and there are hundreds of litres of fuel that has leaked across four of the five lanes,” he said.
Fire Rescue Victoria officers are cleaning up fuel that was spilled on the freeway. Credit: Nine News
“If you’re leaving the city this afternoon, don’t even consider the Monash Freeway. Our data is even showing extra traffic on the Eastern Freeway, so some drivers are even taking that route to get around this closure.”
Fire Rescue Victoria is cleaning up the fuel spilled on the road.
The driver is recovering in The Alfred hospital.
More to come.
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