A man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death after four people died in a two-vehicle crash on the New South Wales Central Coast.
At approximately 9.20pm on Friday, emergency services were called to the Newell Highway, Tomingley, about 35 kilometers south of Dubbo, to find that a Toyota Hilux utility vehicle and a Toyota Hiace van had collided.
Two men in the van, Lochie Jacobs, 19, and Joey Urban, 18, along with a couple in the van, Sue Tait, 57, and her husband Graham, also 57, died at the scene.
A 23-year-old man driving the ute was taken to Dubbo Hospital with suspected leg injuries.
Upon being discharged on Monday, he was charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving, failure to wear a seat belt properly fastened and driving with passenger seat belts not properly fastened.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Dubbo Local Court on October 21.
Tributes have poured in for the two teenagers and the couple following the crash, as police investigate what caused the fatal collision.
“RIP Lochie, give your dad the biggest hug, he’ll be so proud of the young man you’ve become,” one loved one wrote.
‘Last night the world lost a beautiful young man. “Two years ago I attended your father’s funeral, but I never thought I’d have to go to your funeral, Lochie,” said another.
Some of the wreckage was left on the side of the road on Sunday, where the teens’ friends began laying flowers in honor of the best friends.
Lochie Jacobs, 18, died in the car crash Friday night. He and his best friend tragically lost their lives.
Joey Urban, 19, also died in the crash, near Dubbo in central western New South Wales.
Mr. Urban’s sister remembered him as “the best brother a sister could ask for” and said she would “drink some Tooheys” on his behalf.
“I love you so much, you will be missed by many,” he wrote.
Another friend said they can “rest easy, beautiful boys.”
‘The world is so cruel sometimes! “Too young,” they wrote.
Mr Jacobs had run a farming business, Jacobs Rural Contracting, since April after completing his studies at St Stanislaus’ Agricultural College in Bathurst.
His latest social media post on Wednesday urged his followers to donate to his friend’s mental health fundraiser.
Mr. Urban was known as a promising bull rider and “one of the funniest bastards” among his friends.
Mrs Tait was a teacher at Parkes Early Years Center and had worked there for 17 years.
“Sue has worked at PECC for 17 years, she was known for being a strong and consistent backbone of PECC who thoroughly enjoyed coming to work every day,” the center said in a tribute posted on Facebook.
Lochie and his childhood best friend Joey Urban tragically died after the van they were traveling in collided head-on with a pickup truck on the Newell Highway on Friday night (pictured).
Parkes Early Childhood Center deputy director Sue Tait and her husband Graham (both pictured) also tragically died in the crash.
‘Her husband Graham was a highly respected and experienced coach driver.
“Sadly they leave behind five children who need our love and support right now, they are between 26 and 16 years old.”
TO GoFundMe has raised more than $11,000 in a matter of hours to help support Tait’s children.
“My thoughts are with each and every family affected by this horror,” local MP Stephen Lawrence said on Sunday.
“I know the Parkes community will support their children.”