Five injured, Hume Freeway closed in major multi-vehicle crash in central Victoria

Five people, including two children, have been rushed to hospital, and police have closed a large section of the Hume Freeway in both directions after a multi-vehicle crash 150 kilometres north-east of Melbourne Friday afternoon.

A B-double truck, which tows two semi-trailers, was involved in a collision with “numerous vehicles” near Violet Town about 1.30pm, a police spokesperson said, forcing the major arterial to close in both directions.

“The Hume Highway is currently closed in both north- and south-bound lanes near Violet Town,” police advised.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said two adults and two children were being taken by ambulance to Northeast Health Wangaratta. Another adult was being taken to Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton.

Aerial vision from the scene shows the semi-trailer lying on its side in the scrub to the side of the freeway.

Witness Leslie told ABC Radio Melbourne it appeared the B-double had struck one vehicle before it allegedly crossed the median strip and fell over, possibly hitting other vehicles in the process.

“There was a lot of smoke, but when we went past, there was a lot of ambulances and fireys [firefighters] and SES and people like that helping,” she said.

“It was pretty scary, we couldn’t see how it could possibly have crossed right across the freeway without hitting anyone.”

Transport Victoria’s Chris Miller said it appeared unlikely the freeway would reopen until the evening.

To avoid the crash site, drivers heading north should exit the Hume Freeway at Seymour and rejoin via the Midland Highway, at Benalla. This detour extends the usual trip by 35 kilometres.

Drivers heading south should take a 14-kilometre detour at Violet Town and use the Murchison-Violet Town Road through Meipoll onto the Goulburn Valley Highway, and re-join the Hume Freeway at Seymour.