Gosnells crash: Man, 39, dies after Holden ute collides with Toyota Landcruiser on Albany Highway

A 39-year-old man has died in a confronting crash just minutes after the car was spotted by a police helicopter. Emergency services were called to the incident just after 10.30am following reports of two cars colliding on Albany Highway, near the Tonkin Highway off-ramp, in Gosnells. The 39-year-old driver of a Holden Commodore ute died at the scene after hitting a white Toyota Landcruiser tray-top at the intersection of the highways. A WA Police spokeswoman said the Holden was “observed” driving on Albany Highway by the police airwing minutes before the crash. Police said the Holden was not being chased by patrol cars at the time of the crash. The driver of the Toyota — a male in his 50s — was taken to Armadale Hospital with minor injuries where he remains in a stable condition. The Holden ute’s upper body section appears to have been split in half at its tray. The Toyota’s bonnet was damaged, with debris — including a scooter, swag and clothing — strewn across the road. Witness Phil Gorman said he was exiting Tonkin Highway when the ute drove past in the emergency lane, before swerving and driving through a red light at the intersection of Tonkin and Albany Highway. Mr Gorman said the vehicles collided on Albany Highway, causing the Toyota to “flip in the air and come back down on its wheels”. “It was horrendous, it was the loudest noise you could think of and there was debris just going everywhere,” he told The West Australian. “It was like an explosion, there was just rubble everywhere .... I just couldn’t believe what I saw.” Mr Gorman said police were at the scene “three or four seconds” after the crash. “When the (ute) was behind me .... I couldn’t hear any sirens, and all of the sudden after the crash there were a number of unmarked police cars coming off the off-ramp,” he said. Major crash unit officers are investigating the crash. The southbound Tonkin Highway off-ramp to Albany Highway has been closed. Albany Highway between the northbound Tonkin Highway entry ramp and Turner Place has also been shut. Drivers are urged to avoid the area. Road trauma support: 1300 004 814