News
3 February, 2026
Truck driver may never work in industry again
A 54-year-old truck driver horrifically injured in an accident near Berrima last month may never work in the industry again.
A 54-year-old truck driver horrifically injured in an accident near Berrima last month may never work in the industry again.
Michael Shelton – better known in the trucking industry as ‘Mick’ - is lucky to be alive after the truck he was driving collided with the rear of a B-double in the early hours of January 8.
It is believed the B-double was either stationary or almost stationary and may not have had any lights on.
There has also been speculation on social media that the B-double driver may have fallen asleep.
Mr Shelton was able to swerve at the last minute but suffered serious injuries including multiple fractures to 10 ribs, a cracked sternum and punctured lungs.
Mr Shelton – a driver with 30 years’ experience – was travelling at 100km/h and was carrying 44 tonnes of milk when the accident happened.
He was trapped in the mangled cab of his Kenworth vehicle for 90 minutes before being extracted by emergency services and airlifted to Liverpool Hospital. He was on life support for four days.
Daughter Teghan Shelton has started a GoFundMe campaign to help ease the financial strain facing the family.
“My dad will have eight months of physical recovery but in terms of his mental recovery we don’t know if my dad will be ever able to get behind the wheel of a truck ever again,” she said.
Teghan said her mother Paula would be forced to stay at home while her father recovers.
“When my dad comes home from the hospital I want him to feel the relief of not having to worry about providing – to only focus on healing,” she says on the GoFundMe page.
“This will also help my mum to have the financial support they are going to need during this long road to recovery.”
The campaign has already raised almost $50,000.
Moss Vale owner-driver Brian Wallder was the first on the scene of the accident and has been quoted as saying it was the worst he had seen in almost 50 years on the road.
To donate to the GoFundMe campaign visit
Fundraiser for Paula Shelton by Teghan Shelton : Victim of the Berrima truck accident.
Read More: Southern Highlands, Berrima