Oatlands Midland Highway fatal crash: 19yo dies, another teen in critical condition

Police have revealed the moments leading up to a horror crash in central Tasmania overnight that killed a local teenager and put his passenger in hospital in a critical condition.

A 19-year-old man has died in a crash near Oatlands overnight.

A 19-year-old Telita man has been killed in a crash on the Midland Highway at Oatlands overnight.

Tasmania Police this morning confirmed the teenager had died, with his 19-year-old passenger from Western Australia in a critical condition at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

The teen who died has since been revealed as popular cricket and AFL player Jacob Donohue, with friends remembering him in heartbreaking tributes.

About 12.15am Friday morning, emergency responders including Police, TAS, TFS and SES responded to a call in relation to a fatal motor vehicle crash between a truck and a car on the Midlands Highway, south of York Plains, Oatlands.

Upon arrival of emergency services the 19-year-old male driver was deceased at the scene.

“The crash occurred when a truck had been travelling in a southerly direction on the Midlands Highway towards Oatlands,” police said. “The 63-year-old male driver of the truck was the sole occupant. A gold Kia Sportage Wagon which was driven by a 19-year-old Telita man was travelling in a northerly direction on the Midlands Highway.

“Preliminary investigations indicate both the truck and the Kia have attempted to take evasive action however a collision has occurred between the vehicles. The impact of the collision was to the drivers side of both vehicles involved with the Kia travelling over the wire barrier, coming to rest in the north bound lane but facing south.”

The truck driver was not physically injured.

Crash Investigation Services, Forensic Services, Oatlands and Bridgewater Uniform personnel, Tasmania Ambulance Service, TFS and SES volunteers and the National Heavy Vehicle regulator all attended the scene.

The crash will be fully investigated and has been reported to the Coroner.

The Midlands Highway has been completely closed for almost seven hours with traffic diversions put in place but reopened a short time ago.

“Our sincere condolences go out to all the families of those involved in this tragedy,” police said.