Crash sparks major emergency response near Junee

FIVE people — including three children — have miraculously escaped serious injury after an SUV left the road and flipped into a tree near Junee.

The single-vehicle crash occurred on a straight stretch of Byrnes Road at Harefield, just south of Junee, shortly after 1pm on Wednesday.

It was a confronting scene for first responders, with initial fears some of the occupants may have been trapped inside the silver SsangYong Rexton which had come to rest on its side, wedged against a tree.

The scene of the crash on Byrnes Road | Photo: Wagga Accident Response

The scene of the crash on Byrnes Road | Photo: Wagga Accident Response

But incredibly, it’s understood all five managed to free themselves before emergency crews arrived.

The incident triggered a major emergency response, with five NSW Ambulance units, including Wagga’s Special Operations Team, dispatched to the scene.

The SOT is specially equipped for rescue and extrication in complex situations.

The crash triggered a major emergency response | Photo: Supplied

They were joined by intensive care paramedics, NSW Police, the Volunteer Rescue Association, and the NSW Rural Fire Service.

A NSW Ambulance spokesperson confirmed to the Junee Bulletin that two adults — a man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s — along with three children were assessed and treated at the scene.

Remarkably, all five were transported to Wagga Base Hospital with only minor injuries.

While the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, heavy rain had passed through the area for much of the morning. Locals also note that the straight stretch of road where the crash occurred is notorious for pot holes.

The vehicle was recovered and cleared from the scene shortly after 2pm.