‘Community spirit at its finest’: Public praised for help at crash scene

UPDATE 2.00PM | MEMBERS of the public have been praised for their “calm and compassionate” response after rushing to help the occupants of a serious head-on crash in the Junee Shire overnight.

Police say a Mercedes hatchback and a Toyota Corolla collided on the Olympic Highway at Marinna, about 10 kilometres northeast of Junee, just after 10pm on Saturday, December 13.

The driver of the Mercedes, a 36-year-old woman, was critically injured in the collision, while the 24-year-old man behind the wheel of the Corolla sustained a leg injury.

The crash triggered a major multi-agency response involving NSW Police, NSW Ambulance paramedics, Fire and Rescue NSW, and volunteers from the Junee Rescue Squad (VRA) and the Junee Rural Fire Brigade.

Due to the severity of the woman’s injuries, a Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter was dispatched from Canberra with a specialist medical team on board.

Photos: © The Junee Bulletin

In a statement released on Sunday, the Junee Rescue Squad said its volunteers arrived to find members of the public already assisting the injured drivers.

“Their actions were calm, compassionate, and instrumental in the early care of those involved,” the rescue squad said, describing the response as an example of “community spirit and service at its finest”.

Rescue crews established scene lighting and commenced patient care until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived, before working closely alongside them to assist with patient stabilisation and transfer.

“This incident highlighted the incredible teamwork between the public and all emergency services,” the volunteer rescue agency said.

“Thank you to everyone involved for your professionalism, commitment, and dedication.”

Both patients were transported by road ambulance to Junee, where they were met by the rescue helicopter after it touched down at Laurie Daley Oval shortly before 11.30pm.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

The helicopter’s medical crew further assessed the pair before ambulance paramedics were cleared to transport them to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. A doctor from the helicopter accompanied the critically injured woman during her transfer.

The 24-year-old man was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

In an update on Sunday, NSW Police confirmed specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit are investigating the cause of the crash, with both vehicles seized for forensic examination.

The Olympic Highway was closed in both directions for more than 10 hours while emergency crews responded and investigators examined the scene, with traffic diverted via Temora using Goldfields Way and Burley Griffin Way. The road reopened shortly before 9am on Sunday.

Junee Rescue Squad volunteers remained on scene through the night and into the early morning hours, providing lighting and support while the crash site was preserved for investigation.

As inquiries continue, police are urging anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

EARLIER at 8.10AM | THE Crash Investigation Unit is investigating he cause of a serious head-on collision that left two people injured and forced the closure of the Olympic Highway just outside Junee overnight.

Emergency services were called to the scene at Marinna, about six kilometres east of Junee, shortly before 10.30pm on Saturday, December 13, following reports that two vehicles had collided head-on while travelling at highway speeds of 100km/h.

It was a confronting scene for first responders, including volunteers from the Junee Rescue Squad (VRA) and the Junee Rural Fire Brigade, with both vehicles sustaining significant damage and debris strewn across the Olympic Highway.

The Olympic Highway was closed in both directions for several hours following the crash | Photo: Live Traffic NSW

Ambulance paramedics treated two patients at the scene — a man believed to be in his early 20s who sustained a leg injury, and a woman in her mid-30s who was reported to be in a serious condition.

Due to the severity of the crash, the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter was dispatched from Canberra at about 10.45pm with a specialist medical team on board.

Paramedics worked to treat and stabilise both patients at the crash site for almost an hour before transporting them by road ambulance to Junee.

The patients were met by the rescue helicopter after it touched down at Laurie Daley Oval shortly before midnight.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

The helicopter’s medical crew further assessed the pair before both were transported by road ambulance to Wagga Base Hospital.

A doctor from the helicopter accompanied the woman in her 30s during her transfer.

The rescue helicopter departed Junee at about 12.20am, flying to Wagga Airport to collect the accompanying doctor before returning to its Canberra base.

Officers from the Riverina Police District, assisted by the Crash Investigation Unit, are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Photos: © The Junee Bulletin

The Olympic Highway was closed in both directions between Junee and Illabo while emergency services responded and investigations were carried out.

According to Live Traffic NSW, the highway remained closed at 8am on Sunday, more than nine hours after the crash.

Motorists travelling between Wagga and Wallendbeen were being diverted around the accident site via Temora using Goldfields Way and Burley Griffin Way.

Drivers are urged to check Live Traffic NSW for the latest updates before travelling on Sunday morning.