Man charged over NSW crash that killed four people
A man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death after four people were killed in a two-vehicle crash on the NSW central coast.
At approximately 9.20pm on Friday, emergency services were called to the Newell Highway, Tomingley, approximately 35km south of Dubbo, to discover that a Toyota Hilux business and a Toyota Hiace van had collided.
Two men in the car, 19-year-old Lochie Jacobs and 18-year-old Joey Urban, along with a couple in the van, 57-year-old Sue Tait and her husband Graham, also 57, died at the scene.
A 23-year-old man driving the ute was taken to Dubbo Hospital with suspected leg injuries.
When he was discharged on Monday, he was charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving, failure to properly fasten seat belts and driving with passenger seat belts improperly fastened.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Dubbo Local Court on October 21.
Tributes have been paid to the two teenagers and the married couple following the crash as police investigate what led to the fatal collision.
“RIP Lochie, give your dad a big hug, he will be so proud of the young man you have become,” a loved one wrote.
Lochie Jacobs, 18, died in a car accident Friday evening. He and his best friend died tragically
Joey Urban, 19, also died in the crash, near Dubbo, in central west NSW
“Last night the world lost a beautiful young man. I was at your father’s funeral two years ago but I never thought I would have to go to your Lochie funeral,” said another.
Some of the debris from the crash remained on the side of the highway Sunday, where friends of the teens began laying flowers in honor of the best friends.
Mr. Urban’s sister remembered him as the “best brother a sister could ask for” and said she would “drink a few Tooheys” on his behalf.
“I love you so incredibly much, you will be missed by so many,” she wrote.
Another friend said they can “rest easy, beautiful boys.”
‘The world is so cruel sometimes! Too young,” they wrote.
Mr Jacobs has been running an agricultural business, Jacobs Rural Contracting, since April after completing school at St Stanislaus’ Agricultural College in Bathurst.
In his latest social media post on Wednesday, he urged his followers to donate to his friend’s mental health fundraiser.
Mr. Urban was known as an up-and-coming bull rider and “one of the funniest buggers” among his friends.
Mrs Tait was a teacher at Parkes Early Childhood Center and had worked there for 17 years.
‘Sue has been with PECC for 17 years. “She was known as a strong, consistent backbone of PECC who enjoyed coming to work every day,” the center said in a tribute on Facebook.
Lochie and his childhood best friend, Joey Urban, were tragically killed after colliding head-on with a van on the Newell Highway on Friday evening (pictured)
Parkes Early Childhood Center assistant director Sue Tait and husband Graham (both pictured) also tragically died in the crash
‘Her husband Graham was a respected and experienced bus driver.
“Unfortunately, they leave behind five children who need our love and support at this time. They range in age from 26 to 16 years old.’
A GoFundMe raised over $11,000 in just a few hours to help support Tait’s children.
“My thoughts are with everyone and all the families affected by this horror,” local MP Stephen Lawrence said on Sunday.
“I know the Parkes community will rally behind your children.”