NSW police investigate trucking firm after cyclist's death

Police in New South Wales, Australia, have launched an investigation against a trucking firm whose vehicles have been involved in two fatal crashes in the past month, the latest of which claimed a cyclist’s life.

Both fatal accidents took place near Sydney on motorways, where cyclists are allowed to ride in the breakdown lane.

David Williams, aged 37, died on Saturday when a truck hit him and three fellow cyclists on the M4 motorway, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The three other bike riders, two male and one female, were all seriously injured in the collision.

The newspaper added that the truck driver, a 27-year-old man who works for South Penrith Sand & Soil, had undergone routine blood and urine tests, and the state health and safety body, WorkCover NSW, said that it was investigating whether fatigue might have been a contributory factor to the accident.

New South Wales police said that they had widened their investigation into Saturday’s accident after discovering that the same company had been involved in another fatal accident on 24 March.

In that incident, a 51-year-old man died when a truck hit his station wagon, which was parked in the breakdown lane.

Yesterday, police and accident investigators from the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority searched the company’s premises and seized records relating to the vehicles and drivers involved in the two crashes.

In a statement, Senior Sergeant Peter Jenkins Commander of the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit said: “Investigators from the RTA are working with police to examine the full circumstances of this incident and the other fatality involving this company. Officers are examining all relevant documents to determine if any breaches have occurred,” Senior Sergeant Jenkins said.