Four killed in Canberra crash as Easter break gets off to deadly start | Canberra

Four people have died and a major highway out of Canberra has been closed in a fatal start to the Easter long weekend on the roads.

It brings the death toll on the roads to at least seven in two days amid wild weather and stormy conditions.

About 6.45am, two cars collided in heavy rain on the Barton Highway, halfway between the ACT and the New South Wales town of Murrumbateman.

A female driver and male passenger of a Mitsubishi ute died at the scene, as did the male driver and male passenger of a Ford Ranger. They are yet to be formally identified.

Another male passenger in the Ford was treated on the scene and will be taken to hospital.

Emergency services from the ACT and NSW – including three rescue helicopters – arrived shortly after the collision and worked to cut people out of their cars.

The highway, a major thoroughfare between Canberra and the Hume Highway, is expected to remain closed for some time and the public is being urged to avoid the area.

Southbound traffic has been diverted via Murrumbateman Road and Sutton Road to join the Federal Highway, while northbound traffic is being diverted back to Canberra.

Passengers are being warned to allow for extra time on the road.

Travellers across the east coast of Australia are battling heavy rainfall and hazardous conditions today, with a severe thunderstorm warning in place for parts of northern NSW from Tenterfield to Nowendoc .

The Bureau of Meteorology warned a trough moving across the state was causing severe thunderstorms, high winds and hail which could lead to flash flooding in Armidale, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Inverell, Bendemeer and Bingara.

Amid the rain, millions of Australians are expected to hit the airport and roads today as the Easter weekend begins.

Late Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday are traditionally the busiest times to be on the road, with delays expected on major highways and motorways.

In Tasmania, one woman has died after a two-vehicle crash on the Arthur Highway at Copping this morning.

A female passenger in a white sedan was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A female driver in a Camry sedan and her female passenger were also transported to hospital with minor injuries, while an infant travelling in the car was uninjured.

The highway remains closed between Kellevie Road and Sugarloaf Road while crash investigators conduct inquiries.

In Queensland, the road death toll has risen to four in five days after a 66-year-old pedestrian in Marsden was struck by a car while crossing the road. She died at the scene.

Queensland police have been urging motorists to drive safely this Easter long weekend after charging more than 340 people with drink and drug driving offences these school holidays.

The police minister, Mark Ryan, said the numbers were too high.

“That is four families who are now making funeral arrangements rather than enjoying their time off,” he said.

“One wrong decision on our roads can end your life or someone else’s, and one death can ruin the lives of dozens of people.”

It follows the death of a man in a single-car crash in Sydney’s north-west yesterday afternoon.

About 2.30pm, emergency services were called to Broos Road, Oakville, following reports a Toyota hatchback had left the road and crashed into a stone wall.

The driver, a 22-year-old man, was treated by police and later paramedics, but died at the scene.

Amid the wild weather, a father and his teen son were rescued from the Walls of Jerusalem National Park around 140km northwest of Hobart this morning after their tent flooded during the night.

A personal locator beacon was activated at around 3am but poor conditions and heavy rain prevented helicopter and police access to the bushwalkers until 8.40am. They were found uninjured and transported out of the park to their car.