Investigation report released after haul truck crashes into excavator at NSW coal mine

On February 20, 2025, a collision occurred between a haul truck and an excavator at an open coal mine near Muswellbrook.

The NSW Resources Regulator has published an ‘investigation information release’ following the incident.

“The haul truck reversed towards the excavator without positive communications established between the operators,” the regulator says in the report.

“The excavator operator tried to move the excavator out of the truck’s path but was unable to do so because of the large size of the truck and the position of the excavator on the bench.”

The tailgate and rear section of the truck made contact with the side of the excavator's cabin, causing the front left pillar of the excavator to bend inward toward the operator, while simultaneously lifting the cabin roof.

The excavator's cabin sustained significant damage, preventing the operator from exiting through the normal exit methods.

Read the full report here.