Two dead, four injured in head-on Bass Highway crash

Three siblings involved in the weekend’s tragic double fatality are continuing to recover in hospital, as health authorities provide an update of the woman and four-week-old baby also involved in the crash. LATEST >>

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Three siblings involved in Saturday’s tragic double fatality are now stable, the Launceston General Hospital has confirmed.

Tragedy struck the Victorian family visiting Tasmania, with a man and a woman, both 46, killed in a head-on collision in the state’s north and an 18-year-old and two children, also from the same family, injured in the crash.

Inspector Ruth Orr said a grey Ford Territory was travelling towards Devonport and a white Mitsubishi SUV was travelling towards Launceston along the Bass Highway near Exton at about 11.30am when the crash occurred.

“The vehicle that was travelling towards Devonport, possibly due to driver inattention, has collided head on with the vehicle that is coming the other way,” she said.

The male driver and female front-seat passenger of that car died at the scene.

“The three rear-seat occupants of that vehicle have all been taken to hospital including one that’s been taken to the Royal (Hobart Hospital).

“They’ve all sustained injuries of varying nature. At this stage, fortunately, it appears probably not life-threatening.”

The driver of the other vehicle was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital for suspected spinal or pelvis injuries and as of Monday morning, his condition is stable.

The female passenger and a four-week-old baby in his car were taken to Launceston General Hospital as a precaution.

The pair have since been discharged.

They are believed to be a Tasmanian family.

Passing motorists, including health professionals, assisted those involved in the car crash until emergency services arrived.

A small fire that started in the engine bay of the Ford was quickly extinguished.

Inspector Orr said police were in the area of the crash at the time it occurred and were able to arrive at the site very quickly.

“It’s a head-on collision with two cars and it’s tragic that two people have lost their lives on our road,” she said.

Police have said initial inquiries suggest driver inattention from the man driving the Ford Ecosport may have been a contributing factor in the crash and investigations are continuing.

Authorities have praised the members of the public who came to the aid of those involved in the crash.

Police do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor and investigations are continuing.

The road was closed for about five hours with diversions put in place.

The two fatalities take the state’s death toll to 18, with a 57-year-old Pipers River man killed when his car crashed into a tree on Friday.

Several crashes in black ice, July 11

Update 10.30am:

ICY conditions are causing chaos on Tasmania’s roads on Sunday with several crashes across the state.

A car towing a 6m boat on a trailer crashed on the Arthur Highway at Murdunna, several cars slid off the road on the Tasman Highway near Warrane and police are at the scene of another crash at the top of Mt Black on the Murchison Highway attributed to black ice.

There are no serious injuries reported in the Murdunna crash but the south bound lane of the Arthur Highway is closed while the scene is cleared.

The highway at Mt Black crash is completely blocked but no injuries have been reported.

Tasmania Police have urged motorists to drive with caution as the state experienced its third day of widespread frosts across many parts of the state.

“We just urge drivers to slow down and drive to the conditions,” a police spokesman said.

Between midnight and 6am police and emergency services responded to nine crashes.

These included three crashes on the Southern Outlet and a rollover at Lachlan.