EastLink reopens after car-truck crash caused ‘a hell of a mess’, peak-hour chaos

Emergency services are responding to reports of a serious multi-vehicle accident on the EastLink Freeway near the Monash Freeway interchange, which has left debris strewn across the median strip of the eight-lane highway.

The Department of Transport said a crash at the southbound entry to the Monash Freeway about 4.30pm had prompted the closure of all four southbound lanes.

Diversions, which had for a time been at Wellington Road northbound, have been moved back to the Monash Freeway.

A further two northbound lanes are closed to allow for emergency services vehicles to get close to the accident site.

Police said the crash appeared to be a two-vehicle collision. Ambulance Victoria confirmed a man in his 60s had been transported to The Alfred hospital, with the extent of his injuries unknown.

Chris Miller from the Transport Department said a Mazda 3 appeared to be involved.

“It is rare to see a car so significantly damaged,” he said.

It is understood one male occupant of the vehicle was trapped and was also talking to authorities working to help free him.

One motorist, Brett, told 3AW radio: “I only saw one hatch off to the left. I don’t know whether he had damage to the right side of the car, and I think the median wires had been struck.”

Another motorist, Rod, said he saw a truck in the median strip while heading north on EastLink.

“It looks like it’s got damaged and taken out the wires heading northbound. There’s a hell of a mess where the Monash merges onto EastLink heading south ... It’s going to take ages to clean up.”

Miller said delays – currently up to 30 minutes – were likely to worsen, with traffic already banked up several kilometres.

Northbound delays begin at the Dandenong Bypass, while southbound traffic is queued from the Burwood Highway. Delays are also building outbound on the Monash Freeway and Springvale Road.

Motorists are being urged to divert via Ferntree Gully Road or the Princes Freeway, and use the Princes Highway and Stud Road.