Courts & Police
5 August, 2026
Police: Dashcam shows driver took 'clear path' into cement truck
Police say dashcam footage shows the driver killed in Wednesday's fatal Appin Road crash took what officers have described as a "clear path" into the path of an oncoming cement truck.
Police say dashcam footage shows the driver killed in Wednesday's fatal Appin Road crash took what officers have described as a "clear path" into the path of an oncoming cement truck.
The comments mark the most significant update since the crash, with South West Metropolitan Region Commander Brett McFadden revealing he has personally reviewed the truck's dashcam footage.
The 39-year-old man died after his vehicle crossed onto the wrong side of Appin Road and collided head-on with the cement truck shortly after 10am.
Commander McFadden repeatedly referred to the driver's path during a media conference.
"I've seen the dashcam footage from the truck. There's a clear path that has been taken by the driver," he said.
The commander was asked whether the driver may have panicked after seeing two police vehicles responding under lights and sirens to an unrelated domestic violence incident involving reports of a man armed with a knife.
He declined to speculate but again referred to the dashcam footage.
"There's a clear path that he's taken to the front of the cement truck. The circumstances as to why that path was taken is subject to our investigation."
When pressed on whether the driver would have seen the truck on the long, straight stretch of Appin Road, Commander McFadden again stopped short of drawing conclusions about the driver's actions.
"I can't say what the driver did or didn't see. But what I can say is I've seen the dashcam footage from the truck. There's a clear path that has been taken by the driver."
He later reinforced that assessment.
"My assessment of that video footage I've seen, there's a clear path that has been taken by the driver."
Police also sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crash, saying the man's vehicle was not being pursued, investigated or the subject of any attempt to stop.
Commander McFadden said two Campbelltown Police Area Command vehicles were travelling under lights and sirens to the domestic violence incident and were no closer than 50 metres behind the man's vehicle when it crossed onto the wrong side of the road.
"As they approached another vehicle, being no closer than 50 metres to the rear of that vehicle, the driver of that vehicle has crossed to the incorrect side of the road, impacting heavily with a cement truck travelling in the opposite direction," he said.
The police vehicles immediately stopped to render assistance, however the driver died at the scene. The cement truck driver suffered minor injuries and shock and was taken to hospital.
Because police vehicles were involved in the circumstances leading up to the crash, a critical incident investigation has been declared.
The investigation is being conducted by detectives from Cumberland Police Area Command and is being overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
Commander McFadden said the investigation remained in its early stages and police were continuing to examine why the driver took the path shown in the dashcam footage.
We have uploaded the Police comments below.
If this story has raised issues for you, support is available from Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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