Man in 50s killed and woman seriously hurt after tree falls on ute at Forth in Tasmania’s North-West

A man has died and a woman seriously injured after a tree fell on their 4WD ute while driving in Tasmania’s North-West on Saturday. The latest >>

Single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Sandy Bay Rd and Byron St on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Picture: Elise Kaine

UPDATED 7pm: A man has died after a tree fell on his ute while he was driving at Forth in the state’s North-West on Saturday.

Emergency services responded to the crash about 12.40pm and the man in his 50s died at the scene on Wilmot Rd.

A passenger in the 4WD utility, a woman in her 50s, was flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital with serious injuries after the crash.

Wilmot Rd was closed at the northern end at River Forth and the southern end at Paloona for several hours.

The crash was one of several across the state and Tasmania Police has urged motorists to drive to the conditions as the state experiences heavy rain this weekend.

Earlier on Saturday in Tasmania’s South, there was a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Sandy Bay Rd and Byron St, blocking one lane of traffic.

The scene has later cleared and one person was taken to hospital for medical treatment. Police will investigate the cause of the crash.

Two vehicles were also involved in a crash on Wellington St in Launceston on Saturday morning. A woman in one of the vehicles suffered minor injuries, while two lanes of traffic were blocked.

Tasmania Police Inspector John Ward said motorists must drive to the conditions “especially when visibility is reduced”.

“If you’re on the roads, please slow down, put your headlights on if visibility is poor, and leave plenty of space between vehicles,” he said. “Never drive through a flooded road and always obey any road closures or warning signs about hazardous conditions.”

EARLIER: Tasmania Police has urged motorists to drive to the conditions as the state experiences heavy rain this weekend, with several crashes already having occurred across the island on Saturday.

Police and emergency services were at the scene of a serious crash on Wilmot Rd at Forth on Saturday afternoon.

It’s understood the incident involved a tree falling on a vehicle and that one person is receiving medical attention as a result of the accident.

Wilmot Rd is closed at the northern end at River Forth and the southern end at Paloona “until further notice”, police said.

Inspector John Ward. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

Earlier on Saturday in Tasmania’s South, there was a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Sandy Bay Rd and Byron St, blocking one lane of traffic.

The scene has since been cleared and one person was taken to hospital for medical treatment. Police will be investigating the cause of the crash.

Two vehicles were also involved in a crash on Wellington St in Launceston on Saturday morning.

A woman in one of the vehicles received minor injuries, while two lanes of traffic were blocked. The crash has been cleared.

Tasmania Police Inspector John Ward said motorists must drive to the conditions “especially when visibility is reduced”.

“If you’re on the roads, please slow down, put your headlights on if visibility is poor, and leave plenty of space between vehicles,” he said.

“Never drive through a flooded road and always obey any road closures or warning signs about hazardous conditions.”

Originally published as Man in 50s killed and woman seriously hurt after tree falls on ute at Forth in Tasmania’s North-West