UPDATE WEDNESDAY 7am: The Calder Freeway has reopened at Keilor Park following yesterday’s major collision.
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The crash, described as one of Melbourne's worst, involved seven vehicles, with a petrol tanker colliding with a number of other cars. For more, click here for The Age’s coverage.
UPDATE, 9.30pm: The Age is reporting that the Calder Freeway is likely to remain closed on Wednesday morning after a truck rollover at Keilor Park on Tuesday morning.
Motorists faced lengthy delays throughout Tuesday, with the Calder Freeway closed between the Tullamarine Freeway and the Western Ring Road.
Alternate routes for outbound motorists:
- Tullamarine Freeway - Melrose Drive - Sharps Road - Keilor Park Drive - Calder Freeway
- Tullamarine Freeway - Melrose Drive - Airport Drive - Western Ring Road - Calder Freeway
Alternate routes for inbound motorists from Bendigo:
- Calder Freeway - Keilor Park Drive - Sharps Road - Melrose Drive - Tullamarine Freeway
- Calder Freeway - Western Ring Road - Airport Drive - Sharps Road - Melrose Drive - Tullamarine Freeway
Travellers heading to Melbourne Airport from south-eastern suburbs are advised to take the West Gate Freeway onto the Western Ring Road and then join the Tullamarine Freeway to avoid delays at the Tullamarine Freeway/Calder Freeway interchange.
Motorists travelling to the airport from the north-west are advised to exit the Calder Freeway onto the Western Ring Road and then join the Tullamarine Freeway.
UPDATE, 5pm: For anyone catching the bus home from Southern Cross, V/Line has answered a commuter’s question about the route to Gisborne.
UPDATE, 4.30pm: Victoria Police are encouraging commuter to find alternative routes home with the Calder Freeway at Keilor Park remaining closed.
UPDATE 12.15pm: Motorists travelling to and from Melbourne are being advised to avoid the Calder Freeway in Keilor Park after a serious collision this morning.
The crash, which involved a petrol tanker and a number of vehicles, has claimed at least one life.
Six others have been taken to hospital with injuries.
All lanes are closed on the freeway between the Western Ring Road and the Tullamarine Freeway.
The road is expected to be closed for several hours, including through the afternoon peak, and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes.
Police and emergency services remain on scene.
It is believed the petrol tanker was in the centre lane on the freeway when a car pulled in front of it, causing the tanker to swerve and the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The tanker has then struck a number of other cars, police believe.
One car was crushed under the truck during the incident and investigators are still in the process of determining how many people were in that vehicle, however at least one person has been confirmed deceased.
The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be determined and detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are investigating.
Due to a significant amount of fuel still in the truck and on the road, police will need to wait for MFB crews to clear the scene before they can use equipment to cut into the crushed vehicle and further investigate.
At this time it is expected to take until at least 3pm.
For ongoing coverage, follow The Age here.
Detours were also in place on the Calder Highway in Ravenswood, following a car crash last night. Further details here.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au