Families of road users are in the thoughts of police today following the death of a young brother and sister in a crash on a wet road at Doyalson on the NSW central coast yesterday.
An eight-year-old girl died in the crash and her nine-year-old brother died later in hospital as a result of his injuries. A 12-year-old boy and four women from the two cars involved were also injured and are in a stable condition in hospital.
Traffic and Highway Patrol commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said Easter Sunday is when many Australians get together with families and share time with them.
‘But after the tragic crash yesterday, we have a family that has been torn apart,’ Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
‘Please, before you get into your car today, talk to each other, make the commitment to whoever is in your car or on your bike, that they are your responsibility.
‘Don’t become distracted, don’t drive faster than you should, and for everyone’s sake – don’t become complacent.
‘And if you are going to return home from the Easter long weekend today or tomorrow, be prepared for the delays and don’t become impatient.
‘Thousands of police remain on duty across NSW, patrolling the roads and conducting random breath and drug tests.
‘We hope you are a driver who doesn’t drink and drive, but don’t become complacent and #sharetosurvive,’ Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
On Friday, a 56-year-old woman died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger was involved in a crash near Macksville on the state’s north coast.
Meanwhile, an 18-year-old man is in a critical condition after his Mitsubishi Nimbus left a dirt road and rolled four times before coming to rest in a drain about 7pm yesterday at Dareton, in the state’s Far West. He is being treated in Mildura Base Hospital.
Operation Tortoise – the traffic campaign over the Easter long weekend – began at midnight last Thursday, ends at midnight today, Monday and #sharetosurvive is the core social media message.
At least half a dozen people have been charged with various traffic and other offences as a result of the state-wide operation.
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