Police say the 29-year-old collided with a road sign after driving while fatigued. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Police say a driver told them he “must have fallen asleep” after he veered off the road and hit a road sign near Yass.
A Hume Police District spokesperson said a 29-year-old man from Tregear, NSW, went off the road while travelling from Sydney to Melbourne.
At about 12:30 pm on 29 May, he was driving a red Kia Rio hatchback southwest along the Hume Highway near Yass.
Police say that near the Lachlan Way intersection, the vehicle veered into the centre median strip, collided with a road sign, crossed the northbound lane, and came to rest on a nearby embankment.
“His actions were deemed negligent, and he was issued an infringement notice for negligent driving,” the spokesperson said.
The 29-year-old was the sole occupant of the vehicle and did not report any injuries.
NSW Police attended the scene shortly after the incident, with the police spokesperson alleging he told them “[I] only slept two hours last night and I was listening to something on the radio and then this happened. I must have fallen asleep.”
NSW Police has urged motorists to prioritise rest and avoid driving when tired.
Fatigue-related crashes are preventable and pose a serious risk to all road users.
Inspector Dave Cowell of Yass Police Station said the incident was concerning.
“It’s incredibly frustrating to see drivers still getting behind the wheel when they know they’re not fit to drive. Fatigue is just as dangerous as alcohol or drugs when it comes to impairing your ability to operate a vehicle safely,” he said.
“This could have ended far worse – we’re lucky no one was killed.”
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