Riverina Road Carnage: Two Dead in Separate Horror Crashes Just Hours Apart – Police Beg for Witnesses to Come Forward as NSW Road Toll Skyrockets
- Tragedy strikes the Riverina region as two people die in separate fatal accidents on the same day
- A body was found in a burnt-out ute at Barellan, east of Griffith, with police appealing for information about the incident
- Another driver, believed to be a 56-year-old local man, died at the scene after his ute crashed into a gum tree at Burcher in the northern Riverina
A devastating day on the roads has claimed the lives of two people in the Riverina region, with police desperately seeking witnesses to come forward as the NSW road toll continues to soar.
Emergency services were called to a horrific scene at Barellan, about 50 kilometres east of Griffith, where a body was discovered in a burnt-out utility just off Kolkilbertoo Road on Saturday. Despite the best efforts of NSW Ambulance paramedics, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
A police spokesperson revealed that officers believe the vehicle left the road before crashing and catching fire, with a post-mortem examination to be conducted to help identify the victim and confirm the cause of death.
In a desperate bid for information, police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.
Meanwhile, in a separate tragedy, a 56-year-old local man died at the scene after his ute crashed into a large gum tree on Burcher Road in the northern Riverina. The incident occurred shortly before 6am, with police responding to reports of a ute that had left the road.
The double tragedy comes as the NSW road toll for 2025 exceeds the previous year’s statistics, with 296 people killed on NSW roads so far – 41 more than at the same time last year.
As the community reels from the shocking incidents, police are pleading with drivers to exercise caution on the roads. “We urge all road users to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to stay safe,” a police spokesperson said.
The incidents serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of road accidents, with police and emergency services working tirelessly to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.