Two people have died and 10 others are injured after a major crash involving seven vehicles on the Newell Highway near Dubbo on Tuesday.
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Nine ambulances and three helicopters were called to the scene about 12.30pm, with reports multiple cars driving southbound had collided with two trucks.
A man and woman, both in their 20s, died at the scene, while others had to be cut free from the wreckages of their vehicles.
NSW Ambulance Superintendent Kathy Golledge said the crash scene was "absolute carnage".
There's talk now that the traffic delay will be all day. One bloke just told me "you don't wanna go down there". Sounds terrible. pic.twitter.com/4yFWuTTrhu??? Ben Walker (@walkerb83) January 16, 2018
"One car is believed to be completely crushed under a truck," she said.
Eight people were taken to Dubbo Base Hospital, while two were airlifted to hospitals in Sydney.
It is understood five cars and a B-double were stationary at road works when they were hit by a prime mover which was carrying concrete barriers.
The man and woman who died were in one of four cars which became wedged between the two trucks. The crash scattered some of the cars across the highway.
An 18-year-old man, whose car was trapped underneath the prime mover, survived and remained conscious until he was cut free.
Paramedics said a 20-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman and a two-year-old girl, who were driving together in another car, were taken to hospital in a stable condition for lacerations, a head injury and a cut respectively.
The B-double driver was taken to hospital with neck pain, while the driver of the prime mover was trapped for more than three hours before he was finally cut free suffering serious leg injuries.
Two other car drivers, a 28-year-old woman and a 51-year-old woman, were taken to hospital to be treated for multiple injuries.
NSW Police Superintendent Peter McKenna said the crash was "another tragedy on our roads".
Crash investigators from Sydney and Bathurst will examine the scene, with the highway expected to remain closed "well into the night".
NSW Ambulance paramedic Chris Wilson said those who were taken to hospital were "very fortunate, considering the nature of the incident".
The crash is the third fatal incident involving trucks on NSW roads in the past 24 hours.
On Monday, one man was killed in a fiery collision involving three trucks on the M1 Pacific Motorway near Cooranbong, which sparked a bushfire. Another two truck drivers died later that afternoon in a head-on collision near Grafton.
Police are urging anyone with information on the Dubbo incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
with Georgina Mitchell
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