Police have conceded resources were stretched during one of the most devastating weekends on WA roads in “recent times”.
Six people were killed in a 48-hour period, including an eight-year-old girl who was travelling in a car that rolled on a rural road in Fortescue, 650km east of Exmouth.
Police say a black Great Wall was travelling east on Millstream Rd when it veered off the road and rolled at 11.45am on Sunday.
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The young girl died at the scene.
Two women aged 29 and 42 were taken to hospital with serious injuries, while another woman, 35, and a four-year-old boy were hospitalised with minor injuries.
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It was one of several regional tragedies that had emergency services working overtime, with other crashes in Ravenswood, Karijini and Boxwood Hill.
“With the number of fatalities and serious crashes over the weekend, it has stretched our resources,” Major Crash officer-in-charge Adam Matson said.
“However, we have got sections we can rely upon as well as those areas where the crashes have occurred. They are obviously the first responders to it.”
Major Crash officer in charge Adam Matson addressed the media on the horror weekend on the state’s roads. Credit: 7NEWS
There have been 97 deaths on WA roads so far in 2023, which is down when compared to the same stage of the previous ten years.
But the recent surge in fatalities has police on alert.
Matson said there are five factors that influence most fatal crashes — driving fatigued, impaired driving (drugs, medication, alcohol), inattention, failing to wear seatbelts, and speeding.
“Any deaths on our roads is deeply distressing, not only for those family members of the deceased but also friends and colleagues,” he said.
“Our heartfelt thoughts go to those people.
‘Ripple effect’
“It’s also reaching out to the members of the public that may have witnessed the crashes. It has a ripple effect through our community.
“Responding to fatal crashes is deeply upsetting … and incredibly difficult to our emergency service workers.
“What makes it so difficult is that in some cases we don’t really know what we’ll be encountering when we get to the scene and what also is very difficult is when we know what to expect, not being able to do anything further to help.”
Police said they have road safety strategies in place, with more to come ahead of the school holiday period later this month.
Each weekend crash is now the subject of a police investigation.
Witnesses or any one with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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