Good Friday smash: Couple killed in horror head-on crash that claimed the lives of two others

Two of the four people killed in a horrific head-on collision near the NSW-ACT border have been identified as a beloved couple.

Dianne Perry, 52, was killed instantly when the Mitsubishi ute she was traveling in was hit by a Ford Ranger ute that had crossed the wrong side of Barton Highway.

Her husband Craig, 54, was in the car with her and died at the scene shortly afterwards.

The driver of the Ford and his rear seat passenger, both men in their twenties, were freed from the wreckage but died on the spot despite desperate efforts to save them.

Witnesses claimed the Ford “snaked into its lane before veering over double lines” and collided with the Mitsubishi.

The front passenger of the Ford survived and is now in critical condition in Canberra hospital.

All three occupants of the Ford were in their 20s, although no IDs were found at the scene.

Mr. and Mrs. Perry were well-known Yass residents and lived near where the crash occurred.

The four involved in the crash were among six killed in a ‘gruesome’ 24 hours on the roads of NSW on Good Friday.

A local police officer told the Daily telegram: ‘It is tragic when the locals are involved in an Easter tragedy on the first day of the long weekend’.

“This has major consequences and long-lasting consequences for the local community.”

Barton Estate Wines owner Julie Chitty, who lives nearby, described the highway as a ‘horror’ piece that ‘reasonable proportion of accidents and near misses’.

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist was also killed Friday on Waterfall Way in Hernai, west of Bellingen, north of Coffs Harbour.

And another person died after colliding with a tree in White Hills, in the regional Victorian town of Bendigo, at about 3:15 a.m. Friday.

NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said police urged drivers to remain cautious on the roads.

Ms Chapman also said police will continue to act to crack down on bad driving.

She said police had already caught 39 people over the alcohol limit and 69 people who tested positive on roadside drug tests.

She revealed that a total of more than 1,700 offenses have already been committed as Aussies hit the road to celebrate Easter weekend.

“It is really important that every time someone gets behind the wheel of a vehicle or gets on a motorcycle they take responsibility and that responsibility is to do everything they can to keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe said Mrs. Chapman.

“The police can only do so much.”

Emergency services were alerted at about 6:50 a.m. Friday to the collision between two cars in Jeir, about 30 km south of Yass and near the ACT border.

Several ambulance crews and a rescue helicopter were on the scene, where they found people trapped in a Ford Ranger utility and a Mitsubishi Triton utility that had collided.

The 52-year-old female driver and her 54-year-old male passenger of the Mitsubishi, and a male driver and male passenger, both believed to be in their 20s, in the Ford died at the scene.

Although not formally identified, Ms Chapman said it is believed some of the people killed in the crash were local to the area.

“Two cars with multiple deaths is undoubtedly a horrifying scene, but at the end of the day our thoughts are with the family, friends and local community who will undoubtedly feel the impact of these deaths,” said Ms Chapman.

Another male passenger, believed to be in his 20s, who was in the Ford was taken to hospital after being treated for his injuries at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

It is clear that he is in critical condition.

NSW Fire and Rescue worked tirelessly to extract ‘several people’ from the vehicles after the crash.

Barton Hwy has been closed in both directions following the accident, which occurred at the Casuarina Laneway intersection.

Motorists are urged to take extra travel time into account and to follow the instructions of emergency services and traffic controllers on site.

There are diversions in both directions, diverting southbound drivers between Murrumbateman Rd and Sutton Rd onto the Federal Highway in Canberra.

Meanwhile, northbound drivers using the Federal Highway in Canberra are diverted onto Sutton Rd and then Murrumbateman Rd onto the Barton Highway.

These detours are not suitable for B-doubles, who can use Hume Highway and Federal Highway.

It is not known when the highway will reopen.

Police have created a crime scene as they investigate the crash and are urging anyone with dashcam footage or other information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Meanwhile, Waterfall Way remains closed in both directions at Hernani, west of Bellingen, following the accident between a car and motorcycle near Bald Hill Road.

Emergency services arrived at the scene, but the motorcyclist unfortunately died at the scene.

Traffic in both directions will be diverted from Tyringham Road at Dorrigo and Armidale Road at Tyringham.

Motorists must take extra travel time into account and follow the instructions of emergency services and traffic controllers on site.

It is unclear when the road will reopen.

Police are issuing double demerit points for reckless behavior such as excessive speed and cell phone use in a five-day operation that began Thursday and will last until 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Ms Chapman said police will continue to act to crack down on bad driving.

‘At the end of the day, we are urging drivers to follow the rules,” she said.

“The message is quite simple, drive at the speed limit and drive to the conditions.

“Don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol and definitely have a plan B if you plan to drink.”

“And focus on the road and not your phones.”

She said there were seven road fatalities during the Easter long weekends in both 2022 and 2021.

“The goal this year is to reduce that number,” she said.

‘The message is simple; drive at the speed limit, concentrate on the road – not your phone – and have a plan B when you drink.”