Police investigating cause of Wardell crash that killed four friends

A crash that has claimed the lives of four people on the state’s north coast was so horrific that first responders were unable to determine who was driving.

Tributes are flowing for four mates who were killed in a horror crash last week, as investigators work to figure out how the tragedy happened.

Four friends — Sophie-Lee Fullager, James Doherty, Benjamin Watego and another man — were all found dead inside the back of the mangled ute around 5.45am last Saturday, after a passer-by spotted the wreck on a country road outside the town of Wardell.

Police confirmed two of those in the car were not wearing seatbelts, which meant they were thrown around inside the vehicle when it veered off the road, rolled and smashed into a tree.

Richmond Police District Inspector Mary Tanner said the scene was “pretty traumatic” for police and ambos, who spent much of the day trying to extricate the bodies from the wreckage.

Little is known about where the group was coming from or going prior to the tragedy, however, detectives from the Crash Investigation Unit believe the car crashed hours before the wreck was found.

The mangled ute being removed from the scene.

Sophie’s death was described as a “terrible loss” for Middle Arm, the suburb she hailed from, with friends and family paying tribute to the 24-year-old.

“Sophie had the sweetest nature, the biggest heart and was so strong. She loved to sing and had the most beautiful voice,” one friend wrote online. “Her smile and laugh were infectious. She will be dearly missed.”

James Doherty.

Sophie-Lee Fullager.

James, affectionately known as “Jimbo”, was described as “a gentleman with the warmest heart”, while Benjamin was remembered as a man who “always made people feel at home”.

The group makes up four of 60 people who have been killed on NSW roads during January and February this year — that equates to one person every day so far in 2024.

Benjamin Watego was killed in the crash.

Last year, 49 people were killed on the state’s roads for the same period, and 349 people lost their lives in 2023, which was the sharpest road toll increase in 15 years.

At last week’s road safety conference – held to address the growing road toll, Transport for NSW road safety boss Bernard Carlson said the state was in a “crisis situation”.

“We were tracking to actually meet our 2030 target for the 50 per cent reduction (in road deaths) and that significant increase has meant that we are now significantly off target … both the national target and in NSW,” he said.

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