Veteran journalist Peter Overton has said goodbye to the script after a tragic car accident that killed five teenagers, urging parents to “sit down and watch the news” with their children.
The children, aged between 14 and 16, from Picton High School were in a Nissan Navara Ute when it went off the road southwest of Sydney on Tuesday and crashed into a tree.
The P license plate driver and sole survivor was found next to the wreck East Parade, Buxton, a town of about 1,000, near Picton, 100 km south-west of the town, just after 8 p.m. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.
After providing Wednesday’s afternoon update, Overton implored parents, “If you have teenagers, please sit down and watch the 6pm news with them.”
“It will be a confrontation, but it could save her life.”
Newscaster Peter Overton’s moving appeal to parents after delivering the afternoon update
Police said three girls, two aged 14 and one, 15, and two boys, aged 15 and 16, were found in the rubble.
Detective Acting Inspector Jason Hogan said preliminary investigations indicated speed was a possible factor in the crash.
“We appeal to people to carry out their journey according to the rules and regulations,” the inspector said.
“Obviously having six people in a four-seat vehicle is inherently dangerous and should not be done.”
The horror crash has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit town of Buxton as devastated locals try to make sense of the tragedy.
A close friend of Nissan driver Tyrrell Edward who crashed, Jamarley Frail, said it was not clear whose car the 18-year-old bar worker was driving.
‘I’ve never seen him in a Nissan before. I don’t know whose car that is,” said Jamarley, who is also 18 and was the same year at Picton High School as Tyrrell.
“I know many victims of the accident,” he said.
Four schoolgirls placed bouquets of flowers at the base of a tree at the crash site on Wednesday
A close friend of Nissan driver Tyrrell Edward who crashed, Jamarley Frail (pictured), said it was not clear whose car the 18-year-old pub worker was driving
Camden Police Superintendent Paul Fuller said victims’ families rushed to the scene after hearing about the crash on social media – and alcohol was not thought to have been a factor.
He said not all of the teenagers had been officially identified as of Wednesday morning and officials were working with the families.
“It’s a horrific accident scene and a tragedy of this magnitude will have far-reaching implications … for their families, friends and through the local community,” he said.
“I’ve been in the police force for 38 years and it’s one of the worst accident scenes I’ve ever encountered.”
On Wednesday, Picton High School released a statement that read, “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the students involved in yesterday’s tragic accident.
Five teenagers died in a horrific accident around 100 kilometers southwest of Sydney
The Nissan Navara went off the road and crashed into a tree in East Parade, Buxton, a town of about 1000 people, near Picton, 100km southwest of Sydney
“At Picton High, we prioritize supporting our students as they process this terrible news. Additional advisory support and alternative arrangements will be made to help our students with this.’
At school, teenagers hugged and a girl was carried off campus crying.
Students have been pushed onto campus, where the NSW Department of Education offers additional guidance services.
Advice is also extended to first responders who participated in the horror scene, some of whom would have recognized the victims.
Some distraught students were accompanied by parents as they visited the crash site
Camden Police Area Command officers set up a crime scene which is being investigated by specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.
The area was filled with bouquets of flowers on Wednesday as devastated friends and community members visited the site.
“An investigation into the circumstances of the crash is underway (and) a report for the coroner is being prepared,” a police spokesman said.
Police are asking anyone with dash cam footage or information about this incident to contact them or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
