Five family members killed on Picton Rd

By Alex Arnold
Updated November 5 2012 - 11:41pm, first published December 6 2009 - 10:00am
Five family members killed on Picton Rd
Five family members killed on Picton Rd
The scene of yesterday's smash on Picton Rd, which left five members of one family dead. Picture: KEN ROBERTSON
The scene of yesterday's smash on Picton Rd, which left five members of one family dead. Picture: KEN ROBERTSON

Five people from the same family were killed in a horrific accident on the notorious Picton Rd near Wilton yesterday.A man and two women in their 40s, a 23-year-old woman and her three-month-old baby were killed instantly when their Toyota Camry crashed into a westbound semi-trailer about 3km south-east of Wilton.It brings to 21 the number of people killed, on the road that links the Hume Hwy with the F6, since 2000.

  • LATEST: Picton Rd crash victims had fled Afghanistan
  • Tanker boss fears daily haulage on Picton RdSuperintendent Ian Foscholo of Camden Local Area Command said the accident occurred about 8.20am and involved an empty tanker travelling west and two vehicles travelling east.The severity of the impact meant that it was not until late yesterday afternoon that forensic police could confirm how many bodies were contained in the wreck.The driver of the tanker, a 56-year-old Wilton man, was uninjured but taken to Campbelltown Hospital suffering shock.A third vehicle, a Toyota Landcruiser, suffered minor damage on its left side. The male driver was also uninjured and is assisting officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit with their inquiries.The Landcruiser is understood to have been passing the Camry in an overtaking lane when they came into contact.The Camry is believed to have spun onto the wrong side of the road and into the path of the tanker.The owner of the tanker, Jeremiah Wiedl of Unanderra Tanker Hire, said his driver was on his way to Appin West mine to collect saltwater."What my driver is telling me is without warning the car appeared to come out of the bush and straight into him," Mr Wiedl said."He didn't have a chance to swerve."Mr Wiedl said a second driver from his company was on the scene just minutes later."He said to us 'don't go looking in the car'," Mr Wiedl said."(He saw) five dead people ... not a good thing to see."He'll be having counselling too."Mr Wiedl said he recognised pieces of the truck's engine a frightening distance from where the truck came to rest.Inspector Peter Rowlands from the ambulance service said there was nothing paramedics could do. "It is a horrific situation ... a situation we don't like to go to as our basic aim is to save people," Mr Rowlands said."It does affect emergency services when we arrive on a scene as horrific as this ..."We are very fortunate today we have senior staff on who are unfortunately used to going to things like this."The victims are believed to be from Pendle Hill in Sydney's west, and it is understood they settled in Australia recently from Afghanistan.They were still to be formally identified late last night.A second vehicle containing friends or relatives of the victims was following the car.Picton Rd was closed in both directions between Mt Ousley and the Hume Hwy yesterday.Last night police said investigations into the accident were continuing. They urged anyone who witnessed the crash or events in the lead-up to the accident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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