In short:
A teenager has died in a single-vehicle crash this morning on the NSW South Coast.
A passenger was flown to Sydney Children’s Hospital in critical condition.
What’s next:
Police believe the car was stolen from Sussex Inlet earlier in the morning and are searching for two missing passengers.
New South Wales Police say a single-vehicle fatal crash this morning on the state’s south coast was “tragic and difficult for all involved”.
Emergency services were called to a reported accident at Woodstock Road and Kyeema Drive at Woodstock at 6:45am.
Acting Superintendent David Cockram said a van had struck a concrete power pole.
“Services there were met with a pretty horrible scene, a crash involving, what we worked out was a stolen van,” he said.
“Inside that car was a young male, the driver, [who] was deceased as a result of that crash and another young man in the passenger seat was removed through the work of rescue agencies after some period of time.”
The passenger, a teenage boy, was flown to Sydney Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
Police said early inquiries had revealed the car had been stolen from Sussex Inlet about 12:30am Sunday.
High impact
“This was clearly a really significant and high-impact collision,” Acting Superintendent Cockram said.
“It suggests the car was travelling at significant speed prior to colliding with that power pole.”
He said the “tireless” efforts of the crew on the scene appeared to have saved the life of the teenage boy in the passenger seat.
“We have officers and detectives still at the scene processing something that is quite tragic and difficult for all involved.”
Acting Superintendent Cockram said officers were still trying to determine the victim’s identity.
“We have police doing the terrible job of having to doorknock families in the local area at the moment, trying to identify young person and more than likely having to deliver some really tragic news to the family of one young fellow,” he said.
“It’s just really terrible and difficult scenes to have dealt with today.”
Appeal and search
Police are trying to establish if there were two other teenagers in the car and are using PolAir and the dog squad to search the area.
“We have information that there may have been two other people in this car,” Acting Superintendent Cockram said.
“If there are young people who have information about the people involved in this crash or whether there are other young people involved, please reach out to the police so we can bring about some closure and determine exactly what happened in this instance.”
On Sunday afternoon, a 3-kilometre section of the road remained cordoned off as police continued their investigation.
“This crash is something that did not have to happen,” Acting Superintendent Cockram said.
“We’ve got two young people, one seriously injured and one deceased in really tragic circumstances.
“I implore everyone to just drive to the road rules, do the right thing, and let’s get where we are going so we can spend time with our family.”
A crime scene has been established, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
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