Truck Driver Charged After 840kg of Metal Shards Spill on NSW’s M1 Motorway, Damaging 300 Vehicles

A truck driver has been charged after around 840kg of sharp metal shards spilled from his vehicle onto the M1 Motorway in New South Wales, damaging over 300 cars. The incident took place early in the morning on May 2, 2025, causing major disruptions for thousands of commuters.

The metal debris was scattered across a 25-kilometre stretch of the M1, between Wyong Road and Mount White on the Central Coast. Police say the debris caused significant tyre damage to hundreds of vehicles, with some even forced to stop immediately due to punctures.

The busy highway remained closed for almost 10 hours as cleanup crews worked to remove the sharp metal and make the road safe again. Traffic was backed up for kilometres during peak morning hours.

Police later identified the driver of the truck as a 46-year-old man. He was questioned at the scene and has now been issued a court attendance notice for “driving a heavy vehicle not complying with loading requirements – severe”.

Authorities believe the trailer’s secondary locking handles were not properly secured, allowing the shards to spill freely while the truck was in motion.

The vehicle belonged to NJ Ashton, a trucking company based in Marulan, NSW. A stock image of one of their trucks was shared after the incident.

NJ Ashton’s general manager, Daniel Falconer, spoke to the media shortly after the accident. He said the driver was “devastated and profoundly apologetic,” and added that the team was grateful for the patience of motorists who were affected.

Falconer explained that the driver only learned about the spill after another motorist flagged him down. “He pulled over, checked the tailgate, and saw it was slightly open. He had no idea it was happening,” he said.

The company confirmed that the driver had been doing the same delivery route for over three months without any issues before this unexpected event.

Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident. Still, Falconer noted that the situation “could have been much worse” if more of the 24-tonne load had fallen onto the road.

The driver is scheduled to appear in Hornsby Local Court on Thursday, July 10.