Lithgow crash: Disturbing detail spotted in horror crash scene as child fights for their life and two men, 42 and 49, die at the scene: Cops describe how carnage unfolded
- Two male drivers, 42 and 49, were killed
- A girl, nine, was critically injured
- A pram was spotted in the wreckage
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A pram has been spotted in the debris of a crash that killed two drivers, hospitalised a dozen people and left a girl, aged nine, fighting for life west of the Blue Mountains.
Police said Friday’s holiday pile-up on the Great Western Highway at Wallerawang, about 15km north of Lithgow, appeared to have unfolded when a car crossed onto the wrong side of the road.
Photos from the devastating scene show how the crash so severe several items were flung from the vehicles – including a black pram and holiday items such as pillows.
Investigators on Saturday morning said an eastbound Isuzu D-Max, towing a motorcycle trailer, collided with a westbound Toyota Hilux.
That Toyota then struck a Hyundai Tuscan – hurling it from the highway and trapping the occupants.
In the chaos, the Isuzu then struck a Kia Carnival head-on.
A Nissan Patrol, towing a caravan, then collided with the Isuzu’s trailer.
The Isuzu and Kia drivers were both trapped and died at the scene.
A black pram (pictured in the pile of debris, left) was spotted amongst the carnage from the five-car crash outside Lithgow on Friday
Two people were killed and up to 15 people were injured in a crash near Lithgow (pictured, emergency services at the scene)
A nine-year-old girl is fighting for life in hospital with critical injuries (pictured, ambulance officers are seen wheeling away a patient from the crash scene)
The Kia’s six passengers – including five children and a woman, 41 – were all injured.
A nine-year-old girl is in a critical but stable condition, while the other four are stable, and the adult has been released from hospital.
Many of those caught up in the fatal crash were heading off or returning from holidays for the Christmas[3]/New Year’s period.
Images from the scene show more than a dozen ambulance vehicles, with paramedics and SES officers helping the injured.
Several vehicles were crumpled wrecks with debris strewn across the 110km/h stretch of highway, including suitcases, pillows and dirtbikes.
The impact of the crash was so powerful that a minivan was completely totalled, while another vehicle ended up in a ditch.
The five-vehicle crash occurred along the Great Western Highway at Wallerawang, about 15km north of Lithgow in NSW, with emergency services responding about 12.50pm Friday
Motorists were urged to avoid the area as the Great Western Highway closed in both directions (pictured, emergency services at the scene of the crash)
The Great Western Highway has since reopened.
NSW Police Superintendent Paul Glinn said: ‘It would appear that a vehicle has crossed to the incorrect side of the road.’
Fire crews arrived at ‘a confronting scene of carnage’.
‘Crews with the assistance of ambulance and volunteer rescue association had to make critical decisions triaging patients,’ Fire and Rescue NSW Duty Commander Phil Vaiciurgis said.
‘We had to do two complicated rescues from severe entrapment injuries and provide fire protection and assist police and ambulance rendering the scene safe.’
Friday’s tragedy takes the NSW road death toll to 352 in 2023 – 82 more than last year.
Six passengers in a Kia Carnival – including five children and a woman, 41 – were all injured (pictured, aftermath of the crash)
Fire and Rescue NSW Duty Commander Phil Vaiciurgis described the crash site (pictured) as a ‘a confronting scene of carnage’
Several of the vehicles involved in the five car pile-up (one above) were left crumpled wrecks
Up to 15 people were injured in the crash, including several children, and two male drivers were killed (pictured, emergency services at the crash site)
The crash takes the NSW road death toll to 352 in 2023 – 82 more than last year (pictured, one of the injured being loaded onto a helicopter)
The tragedy has rocked the region west of the Blue Mountains.
‘It is shocking news and everyone is sending their condolences to those families and loved ones that have been involved in that serious accident,’ Bathurst MP Paul Toole, told ABC News[4].
‘It has a far-rippling effect in our local communities.
‘I know the police have not identified those that have been involved in the incident, but we know it is going to cause a lot of heartache and loss.’
Investigators urge anyone with information or dash cam footage to contact police.
References
- ^ How Lithgow crash unfolded (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Ashley Nickel For Daily Mail Australia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Christmas (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ ABC News (www.abc.net.au)
