Sydney traffic: Gridlock on M1 after multiple vehicle pile-up
Sydneysiders heading home on Wednesday evening are encountering traffic chaos at multiple sites, due to a number of incidents at key locations in the lead-up to peak hour.
Northbound traffic has been brought to a standstill near Gosford after two multi-vehicle crashes partially closed the M1 Pacific Motorway on Wednesday afternoon.
Up to seven vehicles were reportedly involved in the incidents near Calga, one of which took place on the Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge, just after 4pm.
Seven paramedic units responded to the crash and assessed seven patients, with three transported to Gosford hospital, one with a head injury and another with suspected broken ribs.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Brad Folitarik said it was "amazing" that the injuries were not more serious.
“Considering the number of vehicles involved and the chaotic scene, it’s amazing there were not more people injured, and that the injuries sustained were not more serious,” he said.
All lanes have now been reopened after the pile-up, but traffic remains very heavy in both directions.
Separately, both the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Distributor were closed southbound due to a bus breakdown after 3pm on the Eastern Distributor, with passengers needing to be escorted to safety.
Although both have since reopened, traffic remains heavy from the peak hour interruption.
Earlier in the day, a man working at a Salamander Bay chemist was lucky to escape with his life after a car crashed into the shop just after 8am.
The pharmacist was pinned against the wall by the car, and after being freed was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics for "possible injuries to his hips and legs" before being airlifted by helicopter to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.
CCTV footage from inside the shop shows just how close his call was.