POLICE are investigating whether fatigue was a factor in a car crash that killed a father of four and injured his wife and children near Lucknow on Tuesday.
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The accident on the Mitchell Highway was the first of two fatal crashes within 12 hours.
The 34-year-old man died on impact when his four-wheel-drive and a ute collided at about 5.30pm on Tuesday.
Police believe the ute, driven by a 26-year-old man, was travelling west on the highway before it crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the family's Mitsubishi Pajero.
Four children in the four-wheel- drive, aged three months to 12 years, their 32-year-old mother and the driver of the ute remain in hospital following the crash.
Acting Inspector Karl Hutchings said police were yet to speak with the surviving members of the Orange family or the ute driver.
“There is talk of fatigue being an issue but until we actually talk to the other driver we really don't know,” Insp Hutchings said.
Yesterday the mother regained consciousness but was in a serious condition at Prince of Wales Hospital and two of her sons, aged nine and 12, were in critical but stable conditions in the children's hospital at Westmead.
The couple's 11-year-old son sustained an eye injury and their three-month-old daughter suffered a broken leg and grazes. She is expected to make a full recovery.
Both these children and the ute driver remain in Orange Base Hospital. The ute driver sustained back injuries and will also undergo an operation on his leg.
Insp Hutchings urged drivers to slow down on the state's roads.
“Take your time and take regular breaks,” he said.
Less than 12 hours after the Lucknow crash, two people were killed when a car carrying six people struck a tree and caught fire on Duffie Drive at Cessnock in the Hunter Valley, at about 4.30am.
