Five teenagers dead in ‘horrific’ car crash south-west of Sydney

A police officer who attended the scene of a car crash that killed five teenagers south-west of Sydney on Tuesday night has described it as one of the worst accidents he has attended in 38 years of service.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Orange Road and East Parade, Buxton, just before 8pm after reports that a Nissan Navara utility had hit a tree.

Three female passengers and two males – all teenagers – died at the scene.

The driver, an 18-year-old man who sustained non-life threatening injuries, was arrested and taken to Liverpool Hospital for mandatory testing.

Officers from Camden Police Area Command established a crime scene, which was being examined by specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit.

Superintendent Paul Fuller from Camden Police Area Command described the scene as “horrific”.

“I’ve been in the police for 38 years and it’s one of the worst accident scenes I’ve ever come across,” he said.

Fuller said the victims, who were yet to be formally identified, were believed to be local to Buxton, a tight-knit community in Wollondilly Shire, about 100 kilometres south-west of Sydney.

“They are all local kids, they all go to the local high school, so it’s a horrific accident scene,” he said, adding that some of the victims were believed to be aged about 14 or 15.

“Unfortunately, some of the first responders would know these kids. A traumatic event like this will have a devastating impact on the families, the friends and the local communities.”

Fuller said the principal of the school had been contacted and counselling would be provided to students when they arrived for classes on Wednesday.

Paramedics, Rural Fire Service crew and Fire and Rescue NSW rescue trucks from nearby Picton attended the scene. A medical team also arrived by helicopter.

Police said an investigation into the crash had begun and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

“Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam footage or information about this incident to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” police said in the statement.

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