Police are investigating whether a head-on collision that killed two teenage best friends and a married couple was caused by one of the cars trying to overtake a road train.
Lochie Jacobs, 18, and Joey Urban, 19, were passengers in a Toyota Hilux ute driven by a 23-year-old man when it collided with a van in central west New South Wales on Friday evening.
Emergency services rushed to the Newell Highway, about 35km south of Dubbo, after reports of the head-on collision at around 9.20pm.
The two teenagers were killed in the collision, while the man and woman in the van, both aged 57, also died at the scene. They have yet to be identified.
Crash investigators are now reportedly working to determine whether the ute or van was trying to overtake a road train on double lines while in a blind spot.
Officers found both cars completely destroyed along the road at the scene.
The 23-year-old driver of the ute somehow escaped death and was rushed to hospital with leg injuries.
Tributes have since poured in for Mr Jacobs and Mr Urban, who have been best friends since childhood.
Lochie Jacobs, 18, was killed in a two-car crash in central west NSW on Friday evening
Lochie’s best friend, Joey Urban, 19, also died on impact during the horror crash
Mr Urban’s sister Maddie said he was the “best brother a sister could ask for”.
“I love you so incredibly much, you will be missed by so many,” she wrote.
“I’ll drink you a couple of Tooheys.”
Another wrote: ‘Rest in peace beautiful boys. The world is so cruel sometimes! Too young’.
“Two of the best guys, best friends together forever,” said another.
One woman remembered Mr. Urban as “one of the funniest bastards” she had ever met.
Mr. Jacobs was a novice bull rider in the central western region.
The investigation into the crash continues.
Emergency services rushed to the Newell Highway, about 35km south of Dubbo, following reports of the head-on collision between a ute and a van at about 9.20pm on Friday