Emergency services at the scene of yesterday’s fatality on the Northern Distributor. Photo: OLIVIA SARGENT
Emergency services at the scene of yesterday’s fatality on the Northern Distributor.
A MOTHER and her three young daughters were lucky to be alive yesterday after being involved in a fatal two-car accident on a newly-opened section of the Northern Distributor.
The accident occurred just after 2.20pm when an Orange man lost control of the car he was driving and veered into oncoming traffic.
His sedan collided with the woman’s west-bound vehicle and burst into flames.
Orange police inspector Brenden Turner said road and weather conditions were not a contributing factor in the accident.
“Investigators are following a line of enquiry that speed and manner of driving [by the man] may be the cause of the accident,” he said.
Inspector Turner said police believed the man was killed on impact. He was travelling east on a relatively straight stretch of road.
The other motorist, a 41-year-old Orange woman,was with her three young daughters, aged five, two and nine months. A Western NSW Local Health District spokesperson said they were transported to Orange hospital following the accident and were all in a stable condition.
Fire and Rescue NSW inspector Antone Mcpherson said one of the cars was “t-boned” in the accident and then caught on fire.
“One of the vehicles was alight and fully engulfed on arrival,” he said.
The accident occurred near the Astill Drive turnoff between the Ophir Road and Leeds parade roundabouts.
Police were yet to confirm the man’s identity.