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Kwinana Freeway traffic jam: Commuter chaos takes tragic twist after woman dies in Bateman crash

Amber JohnstonThe West Australian
VideoA serious three-car crash near South Street in Perth's southern suburbs just before 9am claimed the life of a woman in her 40s.

Traffic mayhem on the Kwinana Freeway caused by a delay in roadworks took a tragic turn today.

Earlier this morning, southern suburbs drivers commuters were greeted by a line of traffic stretching from Canning Highway to Rowley Road, 20km long.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti revealed today that the traffic jam was caused by road works that ran over time.

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“We apologise for the inconvenience and will take measures that these types of things don’t happen again,” she said.

Cement was poured in cracks on the freeway, but it did not dry before the morning rush because of cool conditions overnight.

Main Roads WA spokesman John Venables said the wet cement caused the centre lane of the Kwinana Freeway to remain closed heading northbound after Canning Highway, resulting in traffic gridlock.

The scene of the crash.
Camera IconThe scene of the crash. Credit: 7NEWS

“We’re trying to do some temporary fixes out there and they will probably have to go back in tonight or tomorrow night to actually do some more permanent repairs,” he said.

“So we’re trying to get that lane reopened as soon as we can.”

There was a tragic twist to the traffic chaos after a serious three car crash near South Street killed a woman in her 40s.

The woman was killed just before 9am when a Toyota Hilux rear-ended her Mitsubishi Outlander, causing it to plough into the car in front.

That closed part of the Kwinana Freeway heading northbound and traffic had to be diverted.

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