3.13pm
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The Calder Freeway has reopened following a truck crash near Malmsbury on Wednesday morning.
The freeway's northbound lanes were closed for clean-up after a truck plunged down an embankment.
The driver of the truck was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he remained in a serious condition on Thursday morning.
9.45am
The truck driver remains in a stable condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
9.30am
Northbound lanes of the Calder Freeway will likely remain closed until 3pm as the cleanup from Wednesday's crash continues.
The closure affects the freeway between Malmsbury and Elphinstone.
The Department of Transport has advised motorists to use the Calder Highway through Malmsbury, Taradale and Elphinstone to the Pyrenees Highway, then rejoin the Calder Freeway.
"Motorists are encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys," the department said in a statement.
Thursday, 7.30am
Northbound lanes of the Calder Freeway could close again between Malmsbury and Elphinstone pending further work at the scene of Wednesday's truck crash.
Castlemaine police said the freeway opened overnight but would close again as EPA attended the scene, which was expected to be from 7am.
The VicTraffic website says speed on the freeway is reduced to 60km/h just north of Malmsbury East Road and advises motorists to drive with caution.
VicRoads could not confirm whether there would be a closure.
9.30pm
The Calder Freeway between Malmsbury and Elphinstone remains closed.
7.45pm
Castlemaine Police have confirmed the northbound lanes of the Calder Freeway remain closed between Malmsbury and Elphinstone.
Traffic is being diverted onto Malmsbury East Road. Drivers need to head through Malmsbury and Taradale to return to the Calder Freeway via the Pyrenees Highway.
Drivers should allow extra time for their journey.
5.15pm
Hazeldenes Chicken Farm management will investigate a crash that saw a driver suffer only minor injuries after dropping 20-metres down an embankment near the Spring Creek Bridge on the Calder Freeway this morning.
Hazeldenes chief executive Mark Heintz said he was relieved the drivers injuries weren't more serious.
Emergency services cut the 36-year-old driver from the truck wreckage and he was airlifted to hospital.
"Early reports are that he has suffered no serious injuries but he has been airlifted to hospital where he will undergo further assessment," Mr Heintz said.
"Our thoughts are now with the driver and his family. We will be supporting them in any way we can."
The crash has forced the closure of north-going lanes of the Calder Freeway.
Mr Heintz said the experienced driver was returning from a six-hour return trip to Melbourne and that his truck was empty at the time of the crash.
Mr Heintz said the company would investigate the accident to understand what had happened and to reduce the chance of such an incident in the future.
Hazeldenes is a family-owned company based at Lockwood that has operated for more than 60 years.
2pm
A large crane has arrived at the scene of this morning's truck crash to assist in the recovery operation.
Northbound lanes of the Calder Freeway between Malmsbury and Elphinstone remain closed, and are likely to do so until late in the afternoon.
The Department of Transport said speeds on the freeway had been reduced to 40km/h on the inbound lanes of the freeway passing the scene as a safety precaution.
"Motorists should detour using the Calder Highway through Malmsbury, Taradale and Elphinstone to the Pyrenees Highway to then rejoin the Calder Freeway," the department said in a statement.
11.45am
The Calder Freeway is likely to remain closed to northbound traffic between Malmsbury and Elphinstone for most of the day as crews work to remove the truck and manage any contamination issues arising from leaking fuel.
Bendigo Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Peter Dyer said he had never seen someone luckier than the truck's driver in 29 years.
The driver came away from the crash, which involved a 20-metre drop from the road, without life-threatening injuries.
Police believe the semi-trailer was travelling north-bound on the Calder Freeway when it veered from the road and hit a safety barrier and concrete pillar at the Spring Creek Bridge about 5.20am.
It went off the bridge between the north and south-bound lanes, crushing the cabin
The driver, a 36-year-old man, was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition with injuries to his lower body.
Leading Senior Constable Dyer said the truck was returning from a delivery and was empty at the time of the crash.
Bendigo Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. Leading Senior Constable Dyer urged anyone with information or dash cam footage to call the Bendigo Police Station on 5448 1300.
People can also contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au to make a confidential report.
10.15am
A truck involved in a serious incident at Taradale this morning is believed to have rolled about 15 metres down a vertical embankment before coming to a stop.
The driver was trapped in the truck's cabin for more than an hour before being rescued, with the location adding to the rescue's complexity.
Castlemaine Acting Senior Sergeant Mick Peckham said the truck went off a bridge on the Calder Freeway near Metcalfe-Taradale Road and rolled down a vertical embankment toward a creek.
A high-angle rescue team was dispatched to assist with the rescue.
Senior Sergeant Peckham said the SES attended and freed the driver about 7am.
Police investigations into the cause of the crash are underway.
10am
Paramedics say the man flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital from the scene of a truck crash near Malmsbury this morning was in a stable condition.
The man, aged in his 30s, had lower body injuries.
8am
A man is being flown to the Royal Melbourne hospital after a truck crash near Malmsbury.
His condition is not believed to be critical.
7.30am
An air ambulance has been dispatched after a serious truck crash near Malmsbury.
Paramedics are at the scene.
7am
All northbound lanes of the Calder Freeway at Malmsbury are closed between Malmsbury and Elphinstone.
The Department of Transport has advised motorists to use the Calder Highway through Malmsbury, Taradale and Elphinstone to the Pyrenees Highway, then rejoin the Calder Freeway.
It said the Calder Freeway would likely remain closed for some time as emergency crews conducted the recovery operation.
"The Calder Freeway will open as soon as it is safe to do so," the department said.
Earlier
Emergency services are responding to an incident involving a truck near Malmsbury.
A semi-trailer is believed to have come off the Calder Freeway and gone into a creek.
Firefighters received the call for assistance shortly before 5.30am.
The truck's driver is believed to be trapped.
More to come
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