Coppins Crossing crash: Three Bangladeshi tourists dead after horror smash on Canberra’s outskirts

A road trip to Canberra has ended in tragedy after three Bangladeshi tourists from the same family are killed in a head-on accident while another family member is fighting for his life in hospital.

Emergency services had to dismember the red Toyota hatchback to save the family after it collided with a white Toyota van in an infamous black spot in Canberra’s western suburbs on Sunday.

Police confirmed that the three victims who died at the scene on Coppins Crossing Road were Bangladeshi residents who were all visiting Australia on tourist visas.

Shahid and Sri Khan, aged 61 and 54, died at the scene along with a younger relative, Roni, 21.

The driver, Rashed, in his 20s, was rushed to Canberra Hospital, where he is in critical condition in the ICU.

The red Toyota hatchback is completely flattened in the photo after a crash in Canberra on Sunday

The family was on vacation in the country’s capital at the time.

“Some deaths are unacceptable. Suddenly everything stops at some unprepared news. My brother-in-law and cousin Roni have passed away and older brother Dr. Rashed is in intensive care and praying for him so that Allah protects him,” a family member wrote on Facebook.

‘May Allah bless everyone in heaven.’

Another family member, Abdullah Sarkar, said his uncle Shahid was a regular at his shop and told The Daily Telegraph that the news was “a huge shock” to the whole family.

The driver of the Toyota bus was also taken to hospital in critical condition.

The fatalities bring the ACT’s 2022 toll to 17.

The crash took place within 15 miles of where two teenage girls were killed on the Monaro Highway in Hume a week ago.

A 16-year-old boy was later charged with two counts of guilty driving resulting in death.

Roni (left) also died in the crash, along with family members Shahid Khan (in white) and Sri Khan (in pink) Driver Rashed (second from right) is in critical condition

Police and emergency services were confronted with harrowing scenes upon arrival at the accident site on Sunday

The latest fatality has led to a police plea for motorists to slow down and be careful on the roads.

“It’s an ongoing investigation, we won’t speculate at this stage, but slower speeds mean people are safer on the road,” Chief Inspector Mick Calatzis said.

“It’s just common sense, take it easy. One or two minutes to get there won’t hurt anyone. You must come home to your families alive.’

Jim Walsh of ACT Fire and Rescue said all staff who worked at the crash site will be supported to ensure their well-being is taken care of.

Coppins Crossing Road is a ‘known crash site’ and is ‘full of potholes’, according to locals who have expressed concerns about the road for at least a decade.

Sunday’s horrific crash brings the toll for ACT 2022 at 17. The photo shows the police on the scene

“The point where the collision happened, the signage is ambiguous, it’s pretty much a construction track that’s almost used as an arterial road,” Bill Gremmel of the Weston Creek Community Council told the ABC.

“It’s the main link road between Woden, Weston Creek, Molonglo and the western parts of Belconnen, there’s quite a bit of traffic.

‘It goes from a fairly wide two-lane road’ [John Gorton Drive] very quickly to a narrow one-lane road (Coppins Crossing Road) and it’s downhill.’

The police investigation into the accident continues, including a report for the coroner.

Anyone with information or dashcam can contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.