At approximately 8.40am this morning, police and emergency services attended a multi-vehicle crash on the Bass Highway at Camdale.

Investigations indicate an east-bound Holden Commodore Clubsport sedan was overtaking a fully-laden log truck just east of the East Cam Road junction when the driver, a 32-year-old woman believed to be from the Sisters Beach area, lost control of the vehicle.

The Holden collided with the front right corner of the log truck before sliding out of control across the highway and into the oncoming lane where it had a secondary collision with the rear right wheel on a semi-trailer which was travelling west. This semi-trailer was towing an empty oil tanker.

From this point, it appears that a west-bound Nissan Navara 4wd utility being driven by a 36-year-old Wynyard man was unable to stop and also collided with the left side of the Holden.

The impact between these two vehicles was severe and it appears that the front seat passenger in the Holden, a 40-year-old Burnie man, died instantly. The female driver suffered critical injuries. A 21-year-old male rear passenger was also injured. Both injured parties were conveyed to the North West Regional Hospital.

The driver of the Nissan was relatively un-injured. The log truck driver, a 40-year-old man from Wynyard was not injured, nor was the semi-trailer driver, a 67-year-old Somerset man.

The Bass Highway at Camdale was closed for several hours while Crash Investigators carried out their investigations into the cause. Traffic was diverted through back streets with minimal disruption.

Anyone who observed any of the vehicles prior to the collision, or the collision itself, is asked to contact the Burnie Police Station on 6477 7211 or 131 444.

Next of kin have been informed of the 40-year-old man’s death.

The 32-year-old woman remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Police have not released any names of those involved and an inquest has been opened into the matter.