Police investigating after ute crashes into two Albany fire trucks at roadblock for nearby serious bushfire

Police are investigating the circumstances of a serious crash that happened at a roadblock for a nearby bushfire, with a utility crashing into two fire trucks and leaving four people in hospital on Thursday night. A 64-year-old man had to be cut from his vehicle by fire crews and a traffic management controller working at the road closure point was also injured in the horror incident east of Albany. Police say at about 8.05pm on February 8 at the intersection of South Coast Highway and Cheyne Road two City of Albany fire trucks were struck by a white Holden Commodore utility. One of the vehicles was a light tanker carrying 500 litres of fuel, which was spilt on the road because of the crash. The driver of the ute, a 64-year-old man, had to be freed by emergency services and was taken under priority to Albany Heath Campus before he was later flown to Royal Perth Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. On Friday, the driver was in a stable condition at RPH. A City of Albany volunteer firefighter, a 73-year-old man, was also extracted from his vehicle and taken to Albany Heath Campus. His passenger, a 55-year-old woman, was also transported by St John WA to Albany Heath Campus. The 73-year-old man working as a traffic controller suffered leg and wrist injuries and was taken to Albany Health Campus. The other City of Albany fire truck was clipped by the utility and both the 32-year-old male driver and female passenger in her 30s escaped without injury. The incident happened at the roadblock on South Coast Highway, put in place due to the out-of-control bushfire burning in Green Range and Mettler. The blaze which started on Wednesday morning is being treated as suspicious and has burnt nearly 7000 hectares, with about 120 firefighters, farmer response units, DBCA and DFES personnel and aerial support involved in the fight. City of Albany chief executive Andrew Sharpe thanked those who assisted at the crash scene. “Unfortunately, two firefighters from the City of Albany were involved in a motor vehicle incident on Thursday evening which resulted in them sustaining minor injuries,” Mr Sharpe said. “Thanks to the first responders and support crew on the scene, casualties were promptly attended to and received necessary care. “The City is grateful for our volunteer firefighters whose selfless dedication is crucial to ensuring the safety and resilience of our communities.” The road was made safe again before the intersection was re-opened and Great Southern traffic officers are investigating the crash.