A 67-year-old motorcycle rider died at the scene of a collision with a truck on Gobarralong Road, near Crowes Road, Coolac, approximately 19 kilometres north-east of Gundagai, on Tuesday 10 March 2026. The 55-year-old truck driver was not injured and taken to Gundagai hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers attached to Riverina Police District and Traffic and Highway Patrol commenced an investigation with assistance from the Crash Investigation Unit. The crash is one of several fatal incidents on NSW roads in recent weeks and underscores a mounting concern about rider safety across the state.
The fatality adds weight to data showing a sharp deterioration in motorcycle safety. NSW recorded 67 motorcycle deaths in 2024, an increase of 34 per cent compared to 2023. This trend stands in contrast to some other road user categories; deaths of bicycle riders hit the equal lowest level in the state's history in 2024, with five cyclists dying.
Nationally, the picture is similarly concerning. In the four years to the end of 2024, significant increases in deaths have been seen in drivers, motorcyclists and pedestrians, with motorcyclists seeing a 49 per cent increase. Motorcyclists represented 269 deaths across Australia in the 12-month period ending January 2026.
The state government has responded with legislative changes and reformed licensing schemes. The NSW Government is changing the Graduated Licensing Scheme for motorcyclists to improve novice rider training, testing standards, and licence requirements. Additionally, a new bill introduced to NSW Parliament is expected to improve road safety by mandating drug and alcohol testing of drivers and riders involved in serious crashes.
More broadly, the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan has a target to halve deaths and reduce injuries by 30 per cent on NSW roads by 2030. Yet achieving such reductions requires sustained focus on specific risk groups. Motorcyclists, who lack the protective enclosure of other vehicles, face disproportionate injury risks in collisions. Addressing this requires not only better training and vehicle standards but also continued effort to understand crash causation and identify high-risk conditions.
Anyone with dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Gundagai Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.