A horrific three-vehicle crash on a major highway has caused commuter chaos and raised fears about potential fatalities.
One car was pushed through a fence and towards train tracks after the crash on the Princes Highway at Waterfall, in Sydney‘s south, at 6.10am on Friday.
Seven people were involved in the crash and so far six men, between the ages of 18 to mid-30s, have been hospitalised.
Southbound lanes of the highway were immediately closed as emergency services attended the scene.
NSW Police said the impact of the crash sent one of the cars through a fence and towards nearby train tracks.
Of those hospitalised, two men were taken to Liverpool Hospital, two more were taken to St George Hospital and another two to Wollongong Hospital.
The condition of all those involved, including the seventh patient, is currently unknown.
Photos from the scene show one ute with its front end smashed in, another on its roof and a car which had been pushed off the road and into a pole in the nature strip.
A major three-car crash has caused chaos on Princess Freeway at 6.10am on Friday
Six people, between the ages of 18 to mid-30s, have been hospitalised and the condition of a seventh is currently unknown
One local resident said the section of highway where the crash occurred as ‘tricky’.
‘It’s an 80km/h zone but a lot of cars are already doing 100km/h when they come through here,’ she told 7NEWS.
‘I just feel very sad for everyone involved and hope that it just makes everyone drive a lot more carefully and be more aware of what’s going on, on the road.’
Traffic quickly banked up for kilometres behind the crash zone after lanes of the highway were closed by emergency workers.
Motorists headed towards Wollongong had been diverted via Heathcote Road, the M5 Motorway, the Hume Motorway, and Picton Road.
‘Light vehicles can consider travelling through the Royal National Park as an alternative route,’ Live Traffic NSW advised.
One southbound lane of the highway was still closed as of 11am although traffic diversions had been lifted.
Investigations have begun and anyone who saw the crash or who has dashcam footage has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Southbound lanes of the highway were immediately closed and motorists have been advised to find alternate routes in the area
