The accident occurred at about 6.45pm about five kilometres north of Brocklehurst and according to Orana Local Area Command duty officer, Inspector Mitch Croyston, it was a miraculous escape for both drivers.

The driver, who was evacuated to Sydney, was driving a north-bound truck.

The impact of hitting the livestock truck heading south, reduced the prime mover to just a wheelbase leaving it almost unrecognisable.

The driver was thrown from his disintegrating cab and landed on the highway where he rolled for a short distance before being pinned on the ankle by his jack-knifed rear trailer.

“He is incredibly lucky to be alive,” Inspector Croyston said.

The driver of the south-bound cattle truck, which was also extensively damaged around the cabin area, was reported to have had a small wound on his head and be suffering from shock.

Inspector Croyston said 30 cattle in the transport were either killed on impact or had to be euthanised by a veterinarian soon after the incident.

Traffic along the Newell was diverted either through Narromine or Mendooran with the highway closure lasting almost 24-hours.

It was the second major accident involving two B-double semi-trailers in almost as many weeks.

On January 24, at about 4am, the Newell Highway was closed in both directions between Mitchell Highway and Tomingley Road after the collision between two B-doubles - about 24 kilometres south of Dubbo.

In that accident one driver died, while the other driver had minor injuries and refused transport to hospital.