Widow of 2014 South Eastern Freeway crash relieved as legal case finally closes

Jan Spiess recounted how the death of her husband, Thomas Spiess, in a high-speed sewage-truck crash on the South Eastern Freeway in August 2014 left her family in legal limbo, preventing access to a death certificate for over a decade. The collision also claimed Jacqueline Byrne and injured Cleanaway driver Darren Hicks, who later lost a leg and became a Paralympic champion. Although charges against Hicks were dropped, he later testified against Cleanaway, which was fined $1.1 million for workplace failures linked to the crash.

In a recent coroner’s report, David Whittle recognized the profound trauma Jan experienced, especially after seeing live footage of the accident, and affirmed that safety changes—such as a 60 km/h truck speed limit and low-gear signage—have improved conditions, though she remains uneasy about the road’s safety. The coroner concluded that no obvious systemic safety issues remain on that freeway segment, but further enhancements could still be beneficial.