A 34-year-old man has died and another has been injured after a cherry picker struck a disused rail bridge in Lithgow, New South Wales. Emergency services were called to Inch Street at 8:55am on Thursday following the incident.
The 38-year-old driver managed to free himself from the vehicle, but the passenger was trapped and found dead at the scene. The driver was treated for minor injuries and taken to Lithgow Hospital.
Both men were locals to the Lithgow area and were working for Sydney Trains at the time of the accident. Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland confirmed they were on duty, likely inspecting the rail corridor.
New South Wales Police Superintendent John Walke described the scene as dangerous and complex for first responders. A recovery operation is ongoing due to the complexities of the collapsed bridge.
Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray said the incident had deeply shaken the rail workforce and broader transport community. SafeWork NSW is investigating the crash.
