NSW records four deaths in 24-hour car crash nightmare

NSW has marked a grim milestone of 300 lives lost on its roads so far this year following a concentrated blast of car crash tragedy.

Four people have died in four separate crashes in less than 24 hours, with the carnage beginning at Moree in the state’s remote northwest about 10pm.

A 27-year-old man died in a two-vehicle crash, the police said, with both vehicles rolling over on the Carnavon Highway.

A passenger inside the vehicle was uninjured and taken to Moree Hospital for observation, while the driver of the other vehicle, a 74-year-old man, was also uninjured and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

At 10.30pm in Ingleburn in Sydney’s southwest, a truck and a utility vehicle crashed on the Hume Highway.

Paramedics treated the passenger of the utility, a 37-year-old man, before taking him to Liverpool Hospital, where he later died.

The driver, a 47-year-old man, was trapped for a short time before he was released and taken to hospital in a serious condition, the police said.

The truck driver, a 36-year-old man, was not injured.

Just after midnight at Seven Hills in western Sydney, Ghadi Nakhoul, 28, the son of a deacon at a popular church congregation, died in a two-vehicle crash on Old Windsor Rd.

Mr Nakhoul died at the scene and the police have arrested the other driver, a 42-year-old man.

The police will allege the 42-year-old man was using his mobile phone while driving.

“The 42-year-old man was arrested and taken to Blacktown Police Station and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death) and driver use mobile phone when not permitted,” police said.

Mr Nakhoul is the son of Deacon Ghassan from the Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral Maronite parish.

In a touching social media post, Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral paid tribute to Mr Nakhoul as a man who inspired “faith and hope in so many people”.

“Ghadi was a much beloved son, brother, uncle, friend and a leader in our parish community,” the statement reads.

“Ghadi lead by example. He was hardworking and committed to his family, his friends and above all his faith.

“He loved the Lord his God, he loved his church family and this inspired in him the desire to serve in the community.

“He was a beloved teens leader, sacrificing so much of his time to teach the faith and inspire the hearts of our young people.

“Our parish family and indeed the Maronite community in Australia is better off for having been blessed with Ghadi’s presence and we are indeed devastated about the news of his passing into eternal life.

“We offer our deepest condolences to Ghadi’s family, most especially to his parents our brother Deacon Ghassan with his wife Jocelyn.

“To Ghadi’s brothers John and Joey with his wife Christabel and their family.

“To his sister Denise with her husband Charbel Azar and their family … and to all the extend family and friends … all those who mourn his loss. We assure you of our ongoing prayers.”

The cathedral will hold condolences services on Thursday and Friday from 6pm to 9pm.

“As inquiries continue, police are urging anyone with dashcam footage or information about the incident to contact Blacktown police or Crime Stoppers,” the police said.

And then at Goulburn, about 200km south of Sydney, emergency services rushed to the Hume Highway near Boxers Creek after reports a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle.

Paramedics treated a 32-year-old woman at the scene and then took her to Goulburn Base Hospital, where she later died, police said.

The male driver of the four-wheel drive, 63, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

The carnage lifts the number of lives lost on NSW’s roads this year from 296 to 300.