Woman charged over Tasmania crash after horror long weekend on Australian roads

A woman has been charged following a fatal Good Friday collision in Tasmania, marking one of nine deaths across a horror long weekend on Australian roads.

A woman has been charged following a fatal crash in Tasmania’s southeast on Good Friday.

The 26-year-old was travelling down the Arthur Highway in a Toyota Camry near Copping on April 7 when she collided with a white MG.

The female passenger of the MG died at the scene.

Police later charged the 26-year-old driver with causing death by dangerous driving as well as other traffic offences, the woman later appearing before Hobart Magistrates Court on Saturday evening.

The woman killed is one of nine people to lose their lives over a horror long weekend on Australian roads, with eight others dead in five separate incidents.

A 16-year-old boy died in the early hours of Sunday morning south of Adelaide after the Honda station wagon he was driving crashed into a tree at Lake Plains.

The 16-year-old Strathalbyn boy died after his car hit a tree on Lake Plains Road at Lake Plains, the impact stripping the bark from the tree. Picture: Dean Martin

A devastating two-car collision near the ACT border claimed four lives on Friday, leaving another person in a critical condition.

Just after 6.45am on April 7 a Ford Ranger Utility and a Mitsubishi Triton utility collided on the Barton Highway about 30km southeast of Yass.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 52-year-old woman, and the front passenger, a 54-year-old man, both died at the scene.

The pair have since been identified as Dianne and Craig Perry.

Both the driver and rear passenger of the Ford Ranger, believed to be men in their 20s, also died at the scene and are yet to be formally identified.

Another man travelling in the Ford Ranger was taken to Canberra Hospital in a critical condition.

Four have died and another was seriously injured following the crash north of Canberra in a head-on, two-ute collision on the Barton Highway. Picture: OnScene ACT

About three hours later emergency services were called to Waterfall Way, about 30km west of Dorrigo in northern NSW, following a crash between a car and a motorcycle.

The driver of the motorcycle, believed to be in her 20s, died at the scene. She is yet to be formally identified.

The driver of the car, a 23-year-old man, was not injured and was taken to Dorrigo Hospital for mandatory testing.

At around 3.15am on Friday a driver in Victoria’s northeast region died after their car came off Holdsworth Road in White Hills and crashed into a tree.

The car subsequently caught on fire and the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

These incidents followed the death of a 22-year-old man in Sydney’s north on Thursday, after his Toyota hatchback crashed into a wall in Oakville at around 2.30pm.

Major Crash are at the scene at Lake Plains, South Australia and are still investigating the incident. Picture: Dean Martin

NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman, said police were urging drivers to remain cautious on the roads.

“It’s really important at the end of the day every time someone gets behind the wheel of a vehicle or gets on a motorbike they accept responsibility and that responsibility is to do everything they can to keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe,” Ms Chapman said.

“Police can only do so much.”

Double demerits will remain in place across NSW, the ACT and WA until 11.59pm on Monday, targeting reckless behaviour such as excessive speeding and mobile phone use.

Failing to wear a seatbelt in NSW will cost drivers $362 and six demerit points, while using a mobile phone while driving will set motorists back $362 and 10 demerit points.

Ms Chapman said police were ultimately just urging drivers to “follow the rules”.

“The message is simple; drive to the speed limit, focus on the road – not your phone – and make sure you have a plan B if you are drinking.”

Originally published as Woman charged over Tasmania crash after horror long weekend on Australian roads