Fatal truck fire on Mitchell Highway near Coolabah

A fatal truck fire occurred on the Mitchell Highway near Coolabah, approximately 130 kilometres southeast of Bourke, on Wednesday night, September 16, 2026. Emergency services, including NSW Police and the Rural Fire Service, responded to a road train that was “well alight.”

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but the vehicle was completely destroyed. The body of a man, estimated to be in his 50s, was discovered inside the truck.

NSW Police have established a crime scene and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident. A report will be prepared for the NSW coroner. While the highway has since reopened, traffic is subject to restrictions, including alternating stop-and-slow conditions, as investigations continue.