A teenage university student has been identified as the first victim of a horror seven-vehicle crash in central New South Wales.
Hannah Ferguson, 19, died after a semi-trailer slammed into her car on the Newell Highway, north of Dubbo, about 12.30pm Tuesday.
The Charles Sturt University student’s 19-year-old boyfriend was also killed in the crash, but is yet to be formally identified, 9 News reported.
Charles Sturt University student Hannah Ferguson (pictured), 19, died after a semi-trailer slammed into her car on the Newell Highway, in central New South Wales
The Charles Sturt University student’s (pictured) 19-year-old boyfriend was also killed in the crash, but is yet to be formally identified
Hannah (pictured), her boyfriend and 11 others were harmed – including a two-year-old girl – with injuries ranging from broken limbs to suspected spinal injuries.
A total of 11 others were harmed – including a two-year-old girl – with injuries ranging from broken limbs to suspected spinal injuries.
Authorities described the crash scene as ‘absolute carnage’ on Tuesday, after the truck slammed into the queue of cars believed to be stopped at roadworks.
The impact reportedly threw at least one commuter from their vehicle.
Emergency crews were still trying to free two people from the wreckage more than three hours after the incident, but the final victim was released about 4pm.
Authorities described the crash scene (pictured) as ‘absolute carnage’ on Tuesday, after the truck slammed into the queue of cars believed to be stopped at roadworks
A semi-trailer is believed to have slammed into a queue of cars stopped at roadworks. The impact reportedly threw at least one commuter from their vehicle
The 50-year-old man who drove the semi-trailer was taken to Sydney’s Westmead Hospital with leg fractures and suspected internal injuries, police said.
An 18-year-old man in another car suffered burns and was taken to Concord Hospital.
In a third car were the driver – a 43-year-old woman who suffered a broken arm – a 52-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man who suffered minor injuries.
The fourth car contained a 26-year-old woman who suffered facial injuries, a 24-year-woman who was taken to hospital with a suspected spinal injury, a two-year-old girl and a 19-year-old who suffered minor injuries.
The tragic incident unfolded at about 12.30pm on Tuesday north of Dubbo on the Newell Highway
A two-year-old girl named Jalirah was travelling with her family and was freed from the wreck by her uncle (pictured)
A 39-year-old man driving a utility, and the driver of a B-double, a 27-year-old man, suffered minor injuries and were taken to Dubbo Base Hospital.
The two-year-old girl named Jalirah was travelling with her family and was freed from the wreck by her uncle, 9 News reported.
‘I was pulled out by a passer-by. As I got out I heard bub crying,’ her uncle told 9 News on Wednesday.
‘I grabbed her out, then tried to get the other passenger and the driver. But I wasn’t able to grab them because they needed to be cut out.’
Police said it’s too early to say what caused the crash, but urged people to rest when they need to, and avoid using drugs or alcohol when driving.
Tuesday’s horror smash happened near the town of Dubbo – about 400km north-west of Sydney
Eight ambulance crews, police and three choppers rushed to the scene and remain at the accident site
Earlier, Ambulance NSW Superintendent Kathy Golledge described the scene as ‘absolute carnage’.
‘One car is believed to be completely crushed under a truck,’ she said.
‘We are treating multiple patients, some are still trapped by compression at this stage.’
NSW roads minister Melinda Pavey told the ABC a road worker collapsed after witnessing the crash.
‘It is an absolute horror… We had a worker collapse with shock. This is a terrible, terrible crash,’ she said.
The Newell Highway remained closed overnight to allow crash investigators to examine the scene.
Police reopened the road on Wednesday morning, however investigations are ongoing.