Two dead, 15 injured in major crash on Great Western Highway near Lithgow

Two people have died and 15 others have been hurt in a five-car smash in the NSW Central Tablelands. Here’s the latest.

What should have been a scenic holiday drive down a Blue Mountains highway has instead ended in tragedy, with new details revealing how five cars collided, killing two men and injuring 15 others.

Five people are in critical conditions following the head-on collision near Lithgow, while 10 others suffered less serious injuries.

Just before 1pm Friday, an eastbound Isuzu D-max – towing a motorcycle trailer - and a westbound Toyota Hilux collided on a 110km/h stretch of road on the Great Western Highway at Wallerawang.

The force of impact caused the Hilux to strike a Hyundai Tuscan causing it to leave the roadway and trapping the occupants.

The Isuzu then struck a Kia Carnival head on. A Nissan Patrol – towing a caravan and travelling behind the Isuzu - struck the trailer.

Paramedics accompany a patient from the scene for further medical help. Picture: TNV

Emergency services are currently on scene at a serious multi-vehicle crash. Picture: Facebook / Luke Walker

The Isuzu driver, a 42-year-old man, and the Kia driver, a 49-year-old man, were trapped and died at the scene.

The six passengers of the Kia, a 41-year-old woman and five children - aged between five and 15 - suffered varying injuries.

They were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Westmead and Westmead Children’s Hospital.

One child remained in a critical but stable condition on Saturday morning, while the four other children are stable. The woman, believed to be the childrens’ mother, has since been released from hospital, though is understood to be by the kids’ bedsides.

The Hyundai driver, a 55-year-old man, suffered multiple fractures and was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, while his two passengers were also taken to hospital for treatment. They all remain in stable conditions.

Holiday items including suitcases and travel pillows were strewn across the highway, while a trailer carrying multiple dirtbikes lay crumpled on the ground.

So powerful was the collision that one car was seemingly thrown 10 metres across the road, landing in a ditch.

Smashed car debris is evident at the scene. Picture: TNV

Emergency workers at the scene of the horrific crash on Friday afternoon. Picture: TNV

Emergency workers load a patient onto a rescue helicopter. Picture: TNV

Emergency workers at the scene. Picture: TNV

The Great Western Highway is closed in both directions after a crash that killed two people. Picture: Seven News

The scene was quickly flooded with a sea of flashing lights, as more than 80 emergency services arrived.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews desperately worked to free the drivers of the Kia and D-Max who were “heavily trapped” in the wreckage of the cars, however they could not be saved.

“We had to make critical decisions, triaging patients and completing two complicated rescues with severe injuries,” NSW Fire and Rescue Inspector Phillip Vaiciurgis said.

Those critically hurt suffered a range of injuries from their heads, to chest to abdomen. While others suffered serious limb injuries.

Four helicopters were tasked with flying the critical patients to hospitals in Sydney, including four children who were taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital. Those with lesser injuries were taken to hospitals in Orange and in Sydney via Ambulance.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Paul Glinn said the scene was “confronting and significant” and urged drivers to be safe as the state’s death toll rises to 352 this year - 82 more than the year prior.

“There’s a lot of people on holidays, a lot of people travelling on the roads so we really remind people to travel to the conditions, slow down,” he said.

A patient is loaded onto a rescue helicopter for fast transportation to hospital. Picture: Seven News

At least three rescue helicopters have landed at Westmead Hospital with injured people. Picture: Seven News

“Everytime you get behind the wheel you need to make good decisions, ultimately you’re responsible for ensuring the safety of your passengers.”

One woman who witnessed the crash but asked to be kept anonymous said the scene was

“horrendous” however weather conditions at the time of the incident were not bad at all.

“It was only spitting on and off,” she said.

Another man, who lives across the road from the incident said the section of highway was notorious for prangs.

“There have been some really horrific accidents on that road,” he said.

By Friday evening, the stretch of highway remained closed, as specialist investigators from the Crash Investigation Unit worked to determine the cause of the tragic crash.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, or captured dashcam footage, has been urged to contact police.

The scene from the air. Picture: Seven News