Police say a car and truck collided on a major highway. Image: ACT Policing.
A 25-year-old man has died following a two-vehicle collision on the Monaro Highway, marking the ACT’s first road fatality of 2026.
ACT Policing’s Major Collision Team Acting Sergeant Nathan Smorhun said a car and a truck had collided at about 11:30 am today (9 January), near the intersection of the Monaro Highway and Royalla Drive.
The car’s driver, a 25-year-old man, was treated at the scene by ACT Ambulance Service paramedics before being transported to hospital in a critical condition.
He has since died.
Speaking in the aftermath of the incident, before the man died, A/Sgt Smorhun it was too early to confirm the circumstances behind the collision.
“Initial reports [are that] the driver failed to give way when exiting Royalla Drive. It really goes to show how attentive you need to be behind the wheel of a car,” he said.
“It’s one of those things – a couple of seconds of lapse in concentration can have disastrous effects.”
He said the truck driver was not injured in the crash.
ACT Road Policing’s Major Collision Team is investigating the circumstances of the collision.
A/Sgt Smorhun said the truck would be tested as part of the police investigation, including through a mechanical assessment.
A report will also be prepared for the Coroner.
The roads were closed in both directions for a number of hours on Friday, but an ACT Policing spokesperson said they had re-opened as of about 5:30 pm.
Anyone who witnessed the incident who has not already spoken to police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000, and quote reference number P2414070.
