Sadly police can confirm that a 19 year old male from Telita has died as a result of a fatal motor vehicle crash overnight and his 19 year old passenger from Western Australia is in a critical condition at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
At approximately 12.15am this morning, emergency responders including Police, TAS, TFS and SES responded to a call in relation to a fatal motor vehicle crash between a truck and a car on the Midlands Highway, south of York Plains, Oatlands. Upon arrival of emergency services the 19 year old male was sadly deceased at the scene.
The crash occurred when a truck had been travelling in a southerly direction on the Midlands Highway towards Oatlands. The 63 year old male driver of the truck was the sole occupant. A gold Kia Sportage Wagon which was driven by a 19 year old Telita man was travelling in a northerly direction on the Midlands Highway.
Preliminary investigations the driver of the Kia Sportage indicate both the truck and the Kia have attempted to take evasive action however a collision has occurred between the vehicles. The impact of the collision was to the drivers side of both vehicles involved with the Kia travelling over the wire barrier, coming to rest in the north bound lane but facing south.
The 19 year old male driver died at the scene and his 19 year old male passenger is in the Royal Hobart Hospital in a critical condition.
The 63 year old driver of the truck was not physically injured.
Crash Investigation Services, Forensic Services, Oatlands and Bridgewater Uniform personnel, Tasmania Ambulance Service, TFS and SES volunteers and the National Heavy Vehicle regulator all attended the scene.
The crash will be fully investigated and has been reported to the Coroner.
The Midlands Highway has been completely closed for almost seven hours with traffic diversions put in place but reopened a short time ago.
Our sincere condolences go out to all the families of those involved in this tragedy.
