Former Home and Away actress Jessica Falkholt is fighting for her life in hospital after the devastating crash
Brave motorists risked their lives to pull Home and Away actress Jessica Falkholt and her sister Annabelle out of their mangled car after a horrific Boxing Day crash that killed both of their parents.
Lars Falkholt, 69, and his wife Vivian, 60, died when the car they were driving burst into flames after the crash on the Princes Highway at Mondayong on the New South Wales south coast on Tuesday.
Jessica – who played Hope Morrison in Home and Away – and her sister Annabelle were then airlifted to hospital, where they remain in critical condition, according to 9 News.
Annabelle, 21, is fighting for her life at Liverpool hospital while 28-year-old Jessica is being treated at Saint George Hospital, with family members at their bedsides.
Their car was reportedly involved in a head-on collision after another driver crossed over to their side of the road.
A fire then ‘incinerated’ both cars before the sisters were pulled free by other motorists.
The bodies of the parents were only identified thanks to dental records because they were so badly burned, SBS reports.
Police have also explained that they are investigating the behaviour of the driver of the other car, Craig Anthony Whitall.
The 50-year-old from Ulladulla died in the crash, but officers were struggling to confirm whether he was using his phone before the devastating collision, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Police have explained they are investigating the behaviour of the driver of the other car, Craig Anthony Whitall. Pictured: The horrific crash scene
The sisters were injured in a horrific Boxing Day crash which killed their parents, Lars Falkholt, 69, and Vivian, 60. They were identified with dental records after being burned in the aftermath of the crash
Police said the crash was caused by one car being on the wrong side of the road. It is believed to be a Toyota Prado driven by Craig Anthony Whitall, 50, who also died at the scene
The paper also reported that a Toyota Prado driving in the opposite direction – thought to be Whitall’s – crossed over the road and hit them head-on just south of the Sussex Inlet.
The bodies of the parents were only identified thanks to dental records because they were so badly burned, SBS reports. Pictured: Jessica filming Home and Away
Darrin Collier saw the crash from his car and helped emergency services free the women.
He told The Australian he was still shaken by the accident.
‘The injuries on the two girls will be something I won’t forget in a long time,’ he said.
Jessica appeared as Hope Morrison on Home and Away in 2016, and also on Underbelly: Badness and in stage plays.
She also starred in the supernatural thriller Harmony, set to be released in 2018.
According to her profile on the National Institute of Dramatic Art’s website, Jessica has featured in television commercials and in guest roles on Australian television dramas.
She successfully auditioned for NIDA in 2012, and had also worked in the production department at Channel Seven and for Carnival Films.
NSW Police Chief Inspector Phil Brooks said the holidays were ‘meant to be a time of happiness’ but ‘sadly for many this has resulted in tragedy’.
Police said the crash was caused by one car being on the wrong side of the road, according to the ABC.
They visited the family’s home in Ryde, north-west of Sydney but after finding no-one there tracked down extended family members.
The NSW state road toll is now at 21, and police are warning drivers about ‘fatigue and complacency’ while behind the wheel.
Jessica appeared as Hope Morrison on Home and Away in 2016, and also on Underbelly: Badness and in stage plays. Pictured: Jessica on screen
Witnesses and police pulled the two women (Jessica pictured in front) from the wreckage as the vehicles were engulfed in flames
Chief Inspector Brooks said complacency was primarily to blame for the deaths.
A 25-year-old woman hit a tree with her SUV near Taree, and a 23-year-old woman was killed when she fell out of a Jeep and hit a road sign at Peak Hill.
Other holiday road toll victims included a 63-year-old man who died when his car left the road near Port Macquarie while a 42-year-old man was killed when his Ford Falcon hit a parked truck at Emu Plains in western Sydney.
Jessica (left) remains at Saint George Hospital in a critical condition with family members at her bedside. The NSW state road toll is now at 21, and police are warning drivers about ‘fatigue and complacency’ while behind the wheel
Chief Inspector Brooks said 11 of the deaths were caused by vehicles turning off the road.
‘More than half of these have involved single vehicle run-offs either into a tree or a telegraph pole – sadly killing that driver and/or their passenger – which is an indicator to us that fatigue is the most likely outcome in these very sad and tragic events this close to Christmas,’ he said.
So far in 2017, 873 people have died on the roads in New South Wales, 12 more than at the same time in 2016.
Jessica (pictured) and her sister Annabelle were airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. NSW Police Chief Inspector Phil Brooks said the holidays were ‘meant to be a time of happiness’ but ‘sadly for many this has resulted in tragedy’
In the lead up to New Year’s Day 600 patrol vehicles and 1354 police officers will be on the roads in New South Wales.
Police have given out 13,500 fines for speeding, and almost 19,000 for other traffic offences.
‘Out of 433,000 random breath tests, 739 people are facing the courts in the New Year,’ Chief Inspector Brooks said.
‘Luckily for those drivers, they get to go home to their family but for the 21 lives lost so far, their families will no doubt be feeling the pain and suffering of losing a loved one this close to Christmas.’