Police have named the three companions who died in a horrific two-vehicle collision on Saturday in the south of Tasmania.
Brady Poole, the driver, Maddie Baird, 19, and Andrew Everett, 28, all perished at the site of their Toyota Corolla’s collision with an approaching Volkswagen on the South Arm Highway.
When reports of an incident at Sandford, southeast of Hoba, surfaced on Saturday around 5:15 p.m., emergency personnel arrived on the spot.
Maddie Baird, 19, and her boyfriend Andrew Everett, 28, perished when their vehicle smashed with an oncoming vehicle in an accident.
Brady Poole, a 27-year-old father of two, is thought by police to have lost control of his vehicle and drifted into the wrong side of the South Arm Highway.
I wish this were just a dream, I’ve been missing you both so much,” a buddy said on Facebook.
“Rest in peace, my lovely Maddi, and your companion, Andy.” Another person said, “Forever in my heart.”
This world is quite harsh. One of the two young men’s friends wrote, “another young, wonderful soul stolen too soon.”
Jye White, the president of Sandford Cricket Club, paid homage to his “teammate and buddy” on the organization’s Facebook page.
Mr. White stated of the deceased player, “[He] was a very significant guy in our club, not just a player but a comrade, you could always ensure he’d be the one to constantly provide support and put a smile back to your face.”
A friend of Mr. Poole remarked, “I got a strange feeling when I heard the ambulances speeding back by yesterday.”
I’m considering your family right now.
The 27-year-old male driver of the Toyota, which was headed in the direction of Hobart, is thought to have lost control and drove into the wrong side of the road before hitting the VW.
The 20-year-old driver of the VW and the 20-year-old passenger, both of South Arm, were taken directly to the hospital.
Their status is critical but stable.
The VW driver, a 20-year-old man from Rokeby and the passenger, a 20-year-old woman from South Arm were rushed to hospital (pictured, police at the scene of the accident)
Inspector Luke Manhood told reporters at the scene it was a ‘devastating incident’.
‘To lose three lives in one crash is horrendous,’ he said.
‘Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those involved.’
More than 36 people have died on Tasmanian roads this year.
South Arm Rd is expected to be closed into Sunday morning with traffic being diverted down Rifle Range Rd and Gellibrand Drive.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the crash or has any information relating to the crash to contact 13 1444.