Holiday traffic chaos in Coffs Harbor as a police car crashed into a shop and a truck rolled on the Pacific Highway

A truck accident in Coffs Harbor on the New South Wales mid-north coast is causing major traffic jams on the Pacific Highway as families head off for the school holidays.

Emergency services were called to the city’s central city center just after 1am after a driver overturned his B-Double rig.

The 23-year-old was able to free himself from the rubble and was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

It was the start of a chaotic morning in the area that included an accident less than a kilometer away in which a police vehicle crashed into a storefront during a chase.

The chase began at 5 a.m. on Ocean Parade after an SUV failed to stop for a random breath test.

It ended when the police vehicle swerved at the corner of Murdoch Street and crashed into the side of a hair salon.

Owner Jayime-lee Austin said she was shocked when she received a call about the damage this morning.

“Luckily we’re not open today anyway, they’ll try to make temporary repairs so we can trade again tomorrow.”

Paramedics treated two officers involved in the accident, one of whom suffered minor injuries.

A police spokesman said the SUV pursued by police was later found ablaze on Wilton Place.

“Infamous” hotspot for truck accidents

Meanwhile, the site of the earlier truck accident was described as a “notorious corner” of the Pacific Highway.

Coffs Harbor Fire and Rescue station manager Nat La Macchia said it was a hotspot for truck accidents.

“It’s a bit of a tricky corner,” he said.

Coffs Harbor is the last remaining section of highway between the Queensland and Sydney borders that still runs through a large urban area.

A spokesman for the Transport Management Center said it was unclear when the highway would reopen as a lengthy cleanup operation was underway to remove debris from the road.

One northbound lane of the highway has now reopened and diversions remain in place.

Heavy vehicles traveling south will be temporarily parked to be directed via the diversion by traffic authorities.