Police are urging motorists to take extra care behind the wheel after four people were killed and several others were injured on Western Region roads at the weekend.
Between Friday (10 July 2020) and yesterday (Sunday 12 July 2020), there were four major motor vehicle crashes, including:
- About 3.45pm on Friday (10 July 2020), a 72-year-old man died following a single vehicle crash on Henry Parkes Way, east of Manildra, near Orange.
- About 6pm on Friday (10 July 2020), a 35-year-old man died in hospital after a Toyota Landcruiser and a truck collided at the intersection of the Golden Highway and Ballimore Road, east of Dubbo. The man's passenger, a six-year-old girl, remains in a serious condition at John Hunter Hospital.
- About 3.20pm on Saturday (11 July 2020), a 25-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy died following a single vehicle accident on the Castlereagh Highway, Merrygoen, about 10km east of Mendooran. The driver, a 37-year-old woman, a 13-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl remain in hospital with various injuries.
- About 2.15pm on Saturday (11 July 2020), emergency services responded to reports a 17-year-old boy had lost control of an unregistered motorcycle and crashed on the Rifle Range Road at Inverell. The boy was taken to Armidale Hospital and was later airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital for treatment to life threatening injuries. It is alleged the boy was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
A further 15 motorists were detected drink driving and five returned positive roadside drug tests.
Western Region Traffic Tactician, Acting Inspector Kelly Wixx, is urging motorists to take extra care when behind the wheel.
"The weekend's statistics are especially tragic as they involve children," A/Insp Wixx said.
"We want to remind all road users to take responsibility on the roads as we are continuing to see motorists make poor decisions by drink driving, not wearing seatbelts, speeding, and not driving to the conditions.
"Police are out on the roads enforcing the road rules, and we want to educate drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of their passengers and other road users."
Acting Inspector Wixx said that of the 15 drink driving charges, four were in the high range category.
"It's extremely disappointing that people are continuing to flaunt the law and place all road users at risk," A/Insp Wixx said.
