Passenger Trapped After Cherry Picker Truck Collides with Disused Railway Bridge – Lithgow, NSW – 6 November 2025

Incident Overview
Emergency services have responded to a serious incident in Lithgow, in New South Wales’ Central West, after a cherry picker truck crashed into a disused railway bridge on Thursday morning, November 6, 2025.

The collision occurred at approximately 8:55 am on Inch Street (Bells Road), where the impact caused part of the bridge structure to collapse onto the vehicle.

The male driver managed to free himself and was treated by paramedics for minor injuries before being taken to Lithgow Hospital. However, a passenger remained trapped inside the vehicle, with emergency crews working to safely extricate the individual.

Authorities have not yet provided an update on the condition of the trapped passenger.

The road has been closed in both directions, with police, NSW Ambulance, and Fire and Rescue NSW remaining at the scene. Engineers and council staff are assessing the bridge damage and coordinating debris removal.

“A man, believed to be the driver, managed to free himself, but a passenger remained trapped inside.” — ABC Central West

Location and Time

• Crash Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025 (approximately 8:55 am)
• Location: Inch Street (Bells Road), near disused railway bridge, Lithgow, New South Wales

Vehicles Involved

• Cherry picker truck — collided with disused bridge, partially trapped passenger inside

Injuries/Rescues

• Driver:
  • Adult male — freed himself from the vehicle; treated for minor injuries and transported to Lithgow Hospital.
• Passenger:
  • Remained trapped following the bridge collapse; condition not yet confirmed by authorities.

Emergency Response

• NSW Police, Fire and Rescue NSW, and NSW Ambulance crews attended the scene shortly after 9:00 am.
• Rescuers worked to free the trapped passenger while ensuring the structural stability of the damaged bridge.
• Paramedics treated the driver for minor injuries before transferring him to Lithgow Hospital.
• The road was closed to all traffic, with detours in place while the bridge was assessed for safety and removal of the vehicle continued.
• Engineers from **Lithgow City Council** are inspecting the bridge’s remaining structure for integrity and risk of further collapse.

“The road has since been closed as crews worked to remove the vehicle.” — ABC Central West

Police and Engineering Investigation
NSW Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, focusing on:

• How the cherry picker truck came to strike the bridge, including possible height clearance issues.
• The mechanical condition and speed of the vehicle prior to impact.
• The stability and signage status of the **disused railway bridge** prior to the collision.
• Structural safety of surrounding infrastructure following the collapse.

Engineers are expected to determine whether the bridge will need to be fully dismantled for public safety.

Community and Infrastructure Impact
The crash has caused significant traffic disruptions across Lithgow, with Inch Street and Bells Road closed indefinitely.

Local residents expressed concern over the aging bridge infrastructure and heavy vehicle clearances in the area. Lithgow City Council issued a public notice confirming that access would remain restricted until structural engineers complete safety assessments.

“Lithgow City Council said it did not have an indication of when access to the road would be restored.” — ABC Central West

Emergency responders have praised the coordinated effort between rescue crews and council staff during the complex extraction operation.

Appeal for Information
Police are appealing to witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the crash or surrounding area to contact:

• Crime Stoppers NSW: Call 1800 333 000 or report online at [www.crimestoppers.com.au](https://www.crimestoppers.com.au)
• NSW Police Lithgow Station: Provide direct information to officers assisting with the investigation.