Four lives have been lost in three separate crashes during five hours on roads in country NSW this morning today, NSW Police say.
Provisional crash data indicates 201 lives have been lost on NSW roads this year.
Two people have died after two cars collided head-on in western NSW, this morning. A utility and a sedan collided while travelling on the Sturt Highway near the intersection of Tarpaulin Road, 35km west of Euston, about 6.45am today.
The female utility driver, and sole occupant, died at the scene. A male rear seat passenger in the sedan has died.
A second man, also travelling in the rear of the sedan, along with the sedan driver both sustained critical injuries. Diversions are in place and for the latest on road conditions motorists should check www.livetraffic.com.
A 19-year-old woman died after a single car crash on Werris Creek Road near Tamworth. About 6.40am today, a Hyundai hatch was travelling south on Werris Creek Road, about 2km south of Duri, when investigations suggest the vehicle hit a duck which was on the road. The vehicle then left the road, crashing into a tree. The driver, a 19-year-old woman, from Quirindi, died at the scene.
A 52-year-old man died after his car left the road and caught fire after swerving to avoid a dead kangaroo on the Gocup Road, near Tumut in southern NSW. Emergency services were notified about 2.30am after the man did not arrive at his workplace in time for his rostered shift.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said driving on rural roads presented a different set of challenges to road users.
"The causes of these collisions are still being investigated but these tragedies should serve as a reminder of the need for road users to anticipate unexpected hazards such as animals and slowing down if you are not used to driving on dirt or gravel roads," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
"Highway Patrol Police have been conducting a number of operations in rural areas this year. We want to make sure that wherever you are in this state, you get home safely."
