Police have revealed that three young people who died in a car crash near Tarago on Sunday, July 28 were from the south coast. It is understood they were returning home from a party.
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Investigations continued well into the night after the silver Hyundai SUV in which four people were travelling left Bungendore Road, about 8km west of Tarago about 1pm. It rolled before landing in grassland on its roof.
Three passengers - two women aged 18 and 20 and a 20-year-old man - were trapped inside the vehicle, police said. They died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services.
The male driver, aged in his 20s, was able to free himself unassisted and a rescue helicopter took him to Canberra Hospital with minor injuries. He will undergo mandatory blood tests.
Hume Police District Commander Superintendent Linda Bradbury said it was a "horrific scene" for first responders.
"Any fatality that police go to is confronting," she said.
"The vehicle had left the roadway for factors still under investigation, rolled and landed on its roof."
Superintendent Bradbury said the occupants were known to each other. They had been travelling east from Canberra to the south coast when the crash occurred. The Goulburn Post understands the group was returning from a 21st birthday party.
Superintendent Bradbury said there was no insight yet into the crash's cause. The crash unit investigations included scene imagery and analysis, mandatory drug and alcohol testing of the driver, and examination of occupants' phones.
Police will also interview the driver who remains in a stable condition in Canberra Hospital.
Multiple paramedics, police rescue, general duties police, five RFS units and a group officer attended.
Bungendore Road was closed between the Collector Road turn-off, where the crash occurred, and the Capital Wind Farm gates west of the scene. Crash investigators were onsite for eight hours and the road was re-opened in the early hours of Monday, July 29.
Superintendent Bradbury said there had been six road deaths in the Southern police region in the past fortnight.
"There's a lot that police and the Centre for Road Safety do to reduce road trauma but we really need the community's help to decrease it and the unacceptable loss of life that affects the families, friends, the community and emergency services workers," she said.
"That's about driving to road conditions, don't speed or drive fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or use handheld devices when driving. It's not just about breaking the law, it's about saving your own and others' lives."
While not speculating on the cause of Sunday's crash, the commander said the Goulburn Highway Patrol office dealt with the highest number of speeding infringements in NSW. She attributed this to police detection and in part, the two major highways.
Superintendent Bradbury said she felt for the victims of Sunday's crash, their families and friends, the impact on the south coast and Tarago communities.
Tarago Bushfire Brigade posted on social media that attending "crashes like this are tragic".
"They not only affect the lives of those involved but also the community members who were first on the scene, our volunteer firefighters, local paramedics, police, fire and rescue and Toll rescue helicopter crews," the post stated.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the Bungendore Road crash. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
