Six lives lost on NSW roads in two days

With emergency services still at the scene of the sixth fatal crash in two days, police are pleading with drivers to take care on NSW roads.

About 1.15pm today (Thursday 25 April 2019), emergency services were called to Vittoria Road, near Koomoorang Road, Vittoria, about 25km south west of Orange, following reports of a single-vehicle crash.

A passing motorist found the car crashed and the male driver – and sole occupant – had died at the scene.

Five of the six deaths have followed single-vehicle crashes.

Operation Go Slow, the state’s ANZAC weekend road safety operation, started at 12.01am yesterday (Wednesday 24 April 2019) and will run until 11.59pm on Sunday 28 April 2019.

Officers across NSW will be targeting all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle/helmet offences, which will attract double demerit points.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said he’s very disturbed by the fact that six people have lost their lives in a matter of hours.

“While investigations into the circumstances of each of these incidents is continuing, I implore people to pay attention when they are behind the wheel and drive with diligence. Ensure you are well-rested and drive to the conditions of the road”.

Some other examples of incidents during day 1 of Operation Go Slow include;

– An 18-year-old man was charged with driving whilst disqualified second offence when he was stopped for a stationary random breath test on Hume Highway, Lansvale, and officers discovered he was a disqualified driver. The man was formally refused bail and is due to reappear in Fairfield Local Court tomorrow (Friday 26 April 2019).

– A 38-year-old man travelling along the M2, Baulkham Hills, was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice after he returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.179. His licence was confiscated and suspended, and he is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 22 May 2019.

– About 2.10am, a 26-year-old man was stopped on Illabunda Drive, Malua Bay, and subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result. He was conveyed to Batemans Bay Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.124. His licence was suspended, and he is due to appear in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday 3 June 2019.

Key statistics (Cumulative total – started on 24 April 2019):

Total infringements issued (not speeding): 1,091

Speed infringements: 601

Breath tests: 32,987

Drink-driving charges: 12

Lives lost: 3

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