Two young sisters were killed and their parents are fighting for their lives after a fuel tanker exploded in a horrific multiple-vehicle crash on the Princes Hwy near Batemans Bay last night.
The girls, aged 11 and 13, were killed instantly when the south-bound Kenworth prime mover and three cars collided on a sweeping bend near the intersection of Pebbly Beach Rd at 4.40pm yesterday.
The 36-year-old driver of the tanker, from Narellan Vale, also died in the crash.
Do you know more? Email us at scoop@illawarramercury.com.au, or call (02) 4221 2206Witnesses said the tanker, which was hauling a trailer of diesel fuel, and the car in which the family was travelling crashed down an embankment and were engulfed in a fireball.
The family was returning home from holidays in Victoria with relatives, who were in the car immediately behind them.
They watched the car explode in front of them.
One of the relatives in the trailing car suffered severe burns to his hands while trying to rescue the family.
He was able to drag the father, 47, and mother, 40, from the burning car despite it being on its roof.
"He burnt his hands trying to release the children from the car, and get their parents out," Shoalhaven district ambulance manager Wayne Dunlop said.
However he was unable to get to the two girls in the back seat.
Smoke from the crash scene could be seen from 10km away.
Superintendent Wayne Starling, from Shoalhaven Police, today said it appeared the tanker had crossed to the incorrect side of the road, hitting a Toyota Rav4, a Honda Accord and a Subaru Forrester.
"In the Subaru was a 13-year-old girl and her 11-year-old sister, and the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The drivers of the vehicle were the girls' parents," he said.
"The two parents in the car were saved by members of the public.
"At times of tragedy, people do heroic, great things. It brings out the best in people."
The girls' parents sustained burns to 80 per cent of their bodies, and are in a critical condition at Royal North Shore and Concord hospitals.
Supt Starling said they would be lucky to survive their injuries.
Four other people suffered minor injuries, including one woman in her 50s who was discharged from Batemans Bay Hospital last night.
Investigators are not sure why the tanker crossed to the wrong side of the road.
"It was one of the worst accidents I've ever seen over 20 years in the highway patrol," Batemans Bay Highway Patrol supervisor Sergeant Rob Young said.
The intense heat of the tanker fire, thick smoke and debris hampered rescue efforts and the search for any other casualties.
From the air, the scattered debris and burnt bushland looked like a bomb had exploded. Charred grass stretched for 50m around the two burnt out vehicles.
Michelle Lewis, who owns the Liberty service station two kilometres from the crash scene, said the accident had sent a thick plume of smoke into the air.
"Cars were frantically pulling up saying 'Call an ambulance, call the police', then we looked out the window and saw black smoke," she said.
"There was very thick black smoke for the first hour or so. It is still smokey."
Supt Starling said police would not release the victims' names until they were confident their next of kin had been contacted.
The Princes Hwy was closed for more than 12 hours as crash investigators examined the scene.
One lane was opened this afternoon, and traffic was being alternated along the stretch.
The tanker remained at the scene, and was expected to be salvaged today.
Email a friend