Tributes flow for two young men and parents of five killed in horror crash

Family and friends of teenagers Lochie Jacobs and Joey Urban, both of whom were killed in a head-on crash near Tomingley in the state’s Central West on Friday night, have posted tributes to the two best mates on social media.

Tributes also flowed for Sue and Graham Tait, both of whom were killed in the head-on collision. The Taits, both aged 57, had five children aged between 16 and 26.

The crash scene on the Newell Highway at Tomingley in the state’s central west.Credit: Nine News

Jacobs and Urban, aged 18 and 19, were travelling with another friend in a Toyota Hilux when it collided with a Toyota Hiace van carrying the Taits just after 9pm.

Staff at the Parkes Early Childhood Centre said Sue Tait had worked at the preschool for 17 years.

“She was known for being a strong constant backbone of PECC who thoroughly enjoyed coming to work each and every day,” centre staff posted. “Her husband Graham was a well respected and experienced coach driver.”

Lochie JacobsCredit: Nine News

A friend of Jacobs, Art Chaimongkol, posted a video on Facebook of him visiting the crash site to place flowers and two cans of Bundaberg rum beside the road where fragments of debris from the crash had been collected.

“Lochie, one for you bro, and one for your mate,” Chaimongkol said on the video which he posted on Sunday afternoon. “Rest in peace bro.”

A day before, he wrote: “I attended your father’s funeral but I never thought I would have to go to your funeral Lochie.”

Urban’s sister posted a tribute to social media, calling him “the best brother a sister could ask for,” Nine News reported.

“I love you so incredibly much you will be missed by so many. I’ll drink a few Tooheys for you.”

Joey UrbanCredit: Facebook

Jacob’s brother posted: “Rest in peace Lochie. You don’t understand how much I love you.”

The sole survivor of the crash, a 23-year-old man who was driving the Hilux that carried Jacobs and Urban, was taken to Dubbo hospital with leg injuries.

Police said the crash investigation was ongoing. Investigators had reportedly been looking into whether one of the drivers overtook a road train on double lines and a blind corner.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

In a separate incident, a man in his 50s died in Canley Heights in Sydney’s west on Sunday morning after a motorcycle collided with a black Honda Civic.

Husband and wife Graham and Sue Tait.Credit: Facebook

At least 249 people have lost their lives in road accidents so far this year in NSW. The number suggests fatalities will be higher this year than last year, showing a return to pre-COVID numbers of fatal road accidents.

Preliminary crash data for the year so far, which does not include this weekend’s fatalities, shows 124 of those killed were driving cars or trucks, 47 were motorcyclists, 34 were vehicle passengers, 34 were pedestrians and four were cyclists.