Police are calling for witnesses to last night’s fatal crash near Sandford in southern Tasmania, in which three people tragically died.
Approximately 5.10pm last night, a blue Toyota Corolla was driving north on the South Arm Highway.
Initial investigations indicate that the 27 male driver appeared to cross onto the incorrect side of the road into the path of a south bound black VW.
Sadly all three occupants – the 27 year old driver, a 28 year old male passenger and a 19 year old female passenger, both of Howrah, – died at the scene.
The VW was being driven by a 20 year old Rokeby man, also in the vehicle was a 20 year old woman from South Arm. The occupants of the VW were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment and are in a serious but stable condition.
Southern District Commander Tim Dooley said that 39 people have now died on Tasmanian roads this year, compared with 25 at this time last year.
“It’s been a horrific year for deaths on Tasmanian roads. Last night’s crash where three young people lost their lives and another two are in a serious condition is incomprehensible,” he said.
“As police, we’re doing everything we can to improve road safety. As well as launching our Highway Patrol, our new dedicated Road Policing Services division means we now have one of the highest ratios of traffic police in the country.
“Police are out every day targeting those fatal five dangerous driving behaviours – speeding, distraction, drink and drug driving, fatigue, and seatbelts.
“We’ve said Enough is Enough and ramped up our road safety presence, and we’ve scrapped cautions for fatal five offences this year, so there’s no second chances.
“We’ve worked closely with State Growth and the Road Safety Advisory Council to launch new mobile speed cameras and ad campaigns.
“We’re throwing everything we can at making our roads safer, including brand-new Highway Patrol vehicles, and we’re using other resources like drones and our community evidence portal to help us track down traffic offenders.
“But more needs to be done, and we need to change people’s driving behaviour. Now more than ever we need the community’s support.
“Talk to your family, talk to your friends, talk to your children, about making the right choices on our roads.
“Make it clear that none of us should be taking risks or thinking we’re above the rules.
“We talk about the fatal five: seatbelts, drink and drug driving, speeding, fatigue, and inattention, because it’s these things that cause people to die in crashes.
“It’s time for everyone to take it seriously.”
Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the Toyota in the area prior to the crash.
Anyone with information should contact Police on 131444. Dash cam footage can be uploaded here: https://taspol.au.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/police-seek-dashcam-of-blue-corolla-sandford
