Chiltern crash: Second couple killed in collision near NSW border …
Chiltern crash: Second couple killed in collision near NSW border identified
The second couple who died instantly when their car was hit by a B-double truck has been identified.
Kerry and Noel Capes were confirmed to have died when their Subaru Forrester was struck by the truck at the intersection of Wenkes Road in Chiltern, south-west of Albury near the NSW[2] border, on Thursday morning.
Trevor and Lorraine Breen[3], from Wagga Wagga, in the same car as the Capes, also died in the crash. Trevor Breen and Kerry Capes were siblings.
All occupants were aged in their 70s.
The two couples had stopped for a break and a coffee during a road trip to visit friends and family in Melbourne when the tragedy unfolded.
Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the crash at Chiltern on Thursday
Trevor and Lorraine Breen, from Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, died in the crash
Police believe the retirees' car pulled out in front of the road train without giving way.
'They made] one mistake,' Victorian Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Glenn Weir said. 'The roads are unforgiving.'
The 30-year-old truck driver, who was just one hour into a 12 hour shift, was cleared of any wrongdoing.
'Shocked' residents from Wagga Wagga retirement home Settlers Village, where both couples lived, and local community paid tribute on social media, calling the news 'devastating.'
'Our community is carrying heavy hearts,' one resident said.
'The world is now missing some of the best,' another local woman added.
'I remember Lorraine, she was a very friendly compassionate person.'
'So sad we all grew up together and have been friends for years,' said a woman from Lake Cargelligo.
Another said the audience at a local show at the lake paid their respects with a minute's silence.
One woman said it was 'such dreadful news' and that the Breen family was 'highly loved and respected by many'.
'Very sad news, such beautiful people,' another woman said.
Assistant commissioner Weird described the situation as 'horrible' and said it highlighted that a lack of concentration on the road can have tragic outcomes.
'For whatever reason, [they] have failed to give way at the intersection and been struck by a B-double and they have all been killed straight away,' he said.
The male truck driver, 30, was just one hour into a 12-hour road trip when the crash occurred.
'The poor old truck driver who is just doing his job, driving along, and then is confronted with something that he has absolutely no control over,' Mr Weir said.
The male truck driver, 30, was just one hour into a 12-hour road trip when the accident occurred (scene pictured)
'That will live with him for the rest of his life as well.'
The truck driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries with a mandatory test later confirming he had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
It’s estimated that there are over 10,000 B-doubles, weighing up to 68 tonnes, on the roads every day in Australia.
A car with four people inside weighs no more than 2.4 tonnes.
References
- ^ Peter Vincent For Daily Mail Australia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ NSW (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Trevor and Lorraine Breen (www.dailymail.co.uk)