Crash claims life on Pacific Hwy

AN HORRIFIC head-on accident last night killed one person and left another four people fighting for their lives.

Paramedics declared one person deceased at the scene on the Pacific Highway 40 kilometres south of Coffs Harbour – an infamous stretch of single-lane road between Valla and Nambucca Heads – about 5pm.

Another two people were cut from the wreckage and listed as critical, while a further two patients were thought to be seriously injured.

Police said the high-speed crash involved a semi-trailer and four passenger vehicles.

A medical treatment site was established north of the crash scene and emergency services were forced to prioritise the evacuation of casualties.

All of the occupants with life-threatening injuries had been cut free and rushed to the Coffs Harbour Hospital in multiple ambulances by 6.15pm.

One of the patients, a 70-year-old male driver trapped by confinement, suffered chest, neck and back injuries and compound fractures to both legs. The Lismore-based Westpac Life Saver Helicopter was rushed to the scene but later deferred en route to the hospital.

The Pacific Highway was completely blocked in both directions, as a police accident investigation squad scoured the site to determine the cause of the crash.