"Just heart breaking": Northern Rivers' shock at fatal crash

UPDATE 2.20pm: THE Northern Rivers has united in grief at the deaths of four young people in a crash on the Pacific Highway at Newrybar this morning.

Scores of people have taken to The Northern Star's Facebook page to express their shock at the crash, which police believe happened when a Hyundai sedan travelling to Ballina from Ewingsdale lost control while trying to pass a truck about 1.20am.

All four people in the car - Jessica Camidge 22 of Ewingsdale, Richard Wells, 19 of West Ballina, William Manton, 20 of Ballina, and Samantha Enright, 17 of Skennars Head - died at the scene.

The crash has revived memories of the 2006 Broken Head crash, which killed Bryce Wells, Corey New, Mitch Eveleigh, and Paul Morris, when the car they were in went out of control and crashed into a tree.

Many have taken to Facebook to pass their condolences to the families of the young people killed in the crash.

It's been a particularly hard year on the roads for the Northern Rivers. Since January a total 24 people have died on crashes in the Richmond and Tweed-Byron local area commands. That's the highest roads death rate in the state for the year so far.

However, for now, the attention is on the heart breaking shock of what has happened here, today.

Our thoughts are with the families. Leave a tribute to the victims or families in our comments section

Post by The Northern Star.

UPDATE 12.05pm: POLICE have released the names of the four people killed in a crash on the Pacific Highway at Newrybar this morning.

They are: Jessica Camidge 22 of Ewingsdale, Richard Wells, 19 of West Ballina, William Manton, 20 of Ballina, and Samantha Enright, 17 of Skennars Head.

Police say Ms Camidge was the driver of the Hyundai and Mr Wells was in the front passenger seat. Ms Enright and Mr Manton were sitting in the back seat when the crash happened about 1.20am.

UPDATE 11.20am: THE four people killed in a crash on the Pacific Highway at Newrybar this morning were all young people from the Northern Rivers, police have confirmed.

In a statement, NSW Police Media have said the four people killed were a 22-year-old female driver from Ewingsdale, a 19-year-old man from West Ballina in the front passenger's seat, and two rear passengers; a 20-year-old man from Ballina and a 17-year-old girl from Skennars Head.

UPDATE 9.16am: A CAR that crashed killing its four occupants on the Pacific Highway at Newrybar this morning was overtaking a truck over double lines when it went out of control, police said.

Addressing media at the crash scene, Senior Sergeant Chad George said police had spoken to the driver of the truck they believe the Hyundai sedan was trying to pass when it crashed into a tree about 1.20am, killing its driver and three passengers.

Asked if the four people killed in the crash were locals, Snr Sgt George said police were still working to identify all the victims.

He also declined to comment on the ages of the victims, but confirmed two were men and two were women.

It was expected the car would be removed from the area within the next hour or two.

Authorities remove the mangled wreck which claimed 4 lives near #Ballina @tennewsqld @channeltennews @TenNewsSydney pic.twitter.com/KX6M4onMkc
— Matthew Howard (@MatthewamHoward) September 2, 2014

Snr Sgt George said the highway, which currently has a single lane open at the crash scene, would be closed while that happened.

The stretch of road where the crash happened is currently being duplicated as part of the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade.

This morning's tragedy raises the death toll for the Richmond and Tweed-Byron local area commands to 24 for the year, making this region the worst in the state for fatal crashes.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the crash or who saw either of the vehicles involved immediately before or after it to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,

The scene of the fatal crash scene on the Pacific Highway near Ballina. Photo: Alex Easton

WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ON OUR FACEBOOK SITE

Josh Jade Grissell Bringing back the sadness of the Broken Head accident RIP x

Alysson Roberts So so sad. Thoughts are with all their close ones and also the emergency services.

Sundai Jo Harrison Too many tragedies around this area.. My thoughts and prayers to the family and friends related to those involved absolutely devastating.

Robyn Wray Prayers go out to the families and friends of these 4 people. Such sad news to wake up to.

Angie Burgler Its almost 4 years since the accident at Tyagarah on the Pacific Highway, which claimed the lives of 3 Byron boys. And we STILL DONT have ANY night public transport......

Claire Hogland Sending love and support out to all the families and friends, the emergencies workers and people who travel past their fatality.

Carly O'Mara-rule Not again! So sad!

Melissa Jayne Reid Condolences and all my Sympathy to all the family and people involved. .How very Sad ☹☹

Natalie Hamill Very sad.Feeling for the families today.x

Adrienne Preston Sad news to wake up to. Condolences to the family and friends

Carol McGuire A dark and gloomy morning on the Northern Rivers. Condolences to all concerned.

Amanda Shepherd Hicks We've lost too many young ones on our roads here , this is just devastating

Jessica-Leigh Maraya-Ellen I only drove that road at midnight last night ...road was in great condition and hardly any traffic .... So so sad thoughts go out to the family & friends

Leane Brown Devastating...my heart goes out to the parents and families

Four killed in Pacific Highway crash

Original report: FOUR young people are dead after a car crashed on the Pacific Highway at Newrybar this morning.

The highway remains partially closed at the scene of the crash in the Byron Bay hinterland, where a police say a Hyundai sedan ran off the road and hit a tree about 1.20am.

Four people were in the car when it crashed and all died at the scene.

Police at the scene said it was believed they were all from Ballina. The victims were in their late teens.

Emergency services and crash investigators are currently at the scene.

Traffic controllers are allowing traffic through at the scene with stop/slow signs.

The highway was expected to remain partially closed for several hours.

Southbound motorists are being advised to use Bangalow Road and the Bruxner Highway via Lismore as an alternative route.

Northbound motorists are advised to use the Bruxner Highway and Bangalow Road via Lismore.

Retrieval effort underway, at the scene of a quadruple fatality near Newrybar @PRIME7NthCoast pic.twitter.com/8nYAN6TGwR
— Amy Phillips (@Amy_Phillips10) September 2, 2014