The New South Wales Rural Fire Service confirmed that the truck lost its load around 5 AM, prompting an immediate response to mitigate the aftermath. Utilizing magnets and other tools to gather the embedded metal shards from the highway, state highway patrol commander Howard Collins highlighted the complexity of the cleanup: "It's not just a case of getting a road sweeper out...this takes a long time."

The trucking company, NJ Ashton, has expressed regret and is currently assisting clean-up efforts. State roads minister Jenny Aitchison labeled the incident "unprecedented," emphasizing the government's commitment to restoring the vital commuter route. Meanwhile, local police are investigating the truck driver, a 46-year-old man who is cooperating fully. As they work to piece together how such a large spillage occurred, drivers in the area are left to deal with the lingering effects of the accident.