General News
31 March, 2024
Two dead after pair of fatal crashes in last week
Two fatal vehicle crashes have occurred on the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Gilgandra over the past week.
Two fatal vehicle crashes have occurred on the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Gilgandra over the past week.
The first fatality happened about 7.20 pm last Tuesday, March 5. Emergency services were called to the Newell Highway, Tooraweenah, about 30 km northwest of Gilgandra, following reports of a crash between a truck and a car. Police and NSW Ambulance paramedics attended and treated the driver of the car – a man believed to be aged in his 60s – but he died at the scene. The passenger of the car – a woman aged in her 30s – sustained minor injuries and was taken to Dubbo Base Hospital in a stable condition. The driver of the truck was not injured. He was taken to Coonabarabran hospital for mandatory testing. Officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District then commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.
Secondly, a truck driver died following a single vehicle crash 30 kilometers southwest of Coonabarabran on Saturday, March 9. About 2.15 pm that day, emergency services were called to the Newell Highway at Gowang after reports a B-double semi-trailer combination had left the roadway and struck a tree. The truck caught fire and the driver – who is yet to be formally identified – died at the scene. Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District established a crime scene and an investigation is now underway into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
As inquiries continue, any witnesses or anyone with dash cam vision is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
