Crisis talks will be held over the weekend between the NSW Roads Minister and senior police over how methadone users are able to drive away from a clinic after taking the drug.
The conversation will form part of a meeting on the soaring road toll, following a nightmare Christmas holiday break which saw 22 deaths in NSW alone.
Part of the talks will focus on drugged up drivers, following revelations the man responsible for a crash that critically injured a Home and Away star and killed her family had been driving home after visiting a methadone clinic,The Daily Telegraph reported.
Craig Whitall, 50, had been travelling home from a government-run clinic in Nowra on Boxing Day when his car swerved on to the wrong side of the road, killing him, and the parents of soap actress Jessica Falkholt.
Craig Anthony Whitall was driving home from a methadone clinic when he smashed into a family of four, killing himself and two others instantly
The cars collided on the Princes Highway at Mondayong on the NSW south coast. Two women were dragged out of the fiery wreck by good samaritans, but one has since died from her injuries
Lars, 69, and Vivian Falkholt, 60, were killed instantly in the fiery crash in the Southern Tablelands, and had to be identified by dental records.
Good Samaritans rushed to pull Annabelle and Jessica out of the car in an attempt to save them.
Ms Falkholt and her sister Annabelle were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, and while the Home and Away actress continues to fight for her life, her sister died from her injuries three days later.
Driving under the influence of methadone is not illegal, unless being intoxicated by the drug renders a drive incapable of properly controlling a vehicle.
A NSW Health Department spokesman told the Daily Telegraph there are ‘clear guidelines to clinicians about assessing a patient’s fitness to drive’ after administering a dose of methadone.
NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey and senior police will meet over the weekend to discuss how drug affected clients are able to leave methadone clinics and get behind the wheel
Witness told police they saw Mr Whitall’s white Toyota Prado cross the centre line twice before it crashed into the Falkholt’s Mazda in a head-on collision
Still, nobody stopped Mr Whitall from getting behind the wheel on Boxing Day.
Witness told police they saw Mr Whitall’s white Toyota Prado cross the centre line twice before it crashed into the Falkholt’s Mazda in a head-on collision.
The Ulladulla man had a string of 60 prior offences, including a nine month jail sentence for driving while disqualified, and was well known to police in the area.
The coronial investigation into the crash will focus on whether Mr Whitall was under the influence of drugs at the time of the deadly accident.
Roads Minister Melinda Pavey has been contacted for further comment.
The Falkholt family were travelling home from Christmas celebrations at the time of the crash (pictured is the Falkholt family on Christmas Day)