Seven people including a three-year-old girl have been killed on NSW roads on the weekend, with Police inquiries showing speed was a contributing factor in half of the six fatal crashes.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said these crashes demonstrate how travelling above the speed limit can have tragic consequences.
"The higher your speed, the more difficult it is to control your vehicle if you need to take evasive action," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
"All but one of these fatalities happened on regional roads, where we know drivers are more likely to speed.
"Police travel the same roads as everyone else and have seen some truly shocking driver behaviour which is both reckless and disappointing.
"Families across the state have been left devastated and people have suffered unimaginable injuries because of poor road behaviour.
"If you are travelling this summer, I implore you to think about the lives around you and the impact your death or injury would have on them," Mr Corboy said.
Lives lost on NSW roads this weekend were:
TEMORA: Two people died following a single-vehicle crash in the state's Riverina region. About 6.30pm yesterday (Sunday 6 January 2019), emergency services were called to Burley Griffin Way, about 5kms east of Temora, and found a Holden Commodore had left the road and hit a tree before being engulfed in flames. The driver and his male passenger died at the scene.
PORT STEPHENS: Just after 5pm yesterday (Sunday 6 January 2019), emergency services were called to Tomago Road, near Tomago, after a sedan had left the road and hit a tree, trapping the occupants. A 68-year old female passenger was freed from the vehicle. Despite attempts to resuscitate her, she died at the scene. The 69-year-old male driver and two passengers were freed and taken to John Hunter Hospital, all in a serious condition.
WIRRIMAH (near Young): Just before 7am Saturday 5 January 2019, emergency services were called to Scenic Road, Wirrimah, about 30km north of Young, and found an unregistered Toyota Corolla had left the road, hit a road sign before coming to rest against a tree. The driver, and only occupant, a man believed to be aged in his 30s, died at the scene.
LUCAS HEIGHTS: Shortly before 2.30pm Saturday 5 January 2019, emergency services were called to New Illawarra Road, near Heathcote Road, after reports three vehicles had collided. The male driver of a 4WD, believed to be in his 50s, died at the scene.
DUBBO: About 1pm Saturday 5 January 2019, emergency services were called to Goolma Road, Wellington, 50km south of Dubbo, after a small hatchback left the road and rolled. A three-year-old girl sustained critical injuries and died at the scene. A front-seat passenger, a woman aged 28, was injured and airlifted to Westmead Hospital; the driver, a woman aged 32, was taken to hospital
CLIFDEN (near Grafton): About 2.45pm Saturday 5 January 2019 a man died and five people were injured – one seriously – when two vehicles collided head-on north of Grafton. The crash happened on the Summerland Way at Clifden, 20km north of Grafton, when a northbound 4WD towing a trailer and a southbound white sedan collided in the northbound lane. The man driving the sedan died at the scene; his wife was trapped for almost two hours before being released and airlifted to Gold Coast Hospital in a serious condition.
