‘Infectious laugh’: Tributes for NSW mum killed in horrific crash on Newell Hwy in Tomingley, near Dubbo

Rhiannon Lewin and Molly Magennis
7NEWS
The horror head-on crash near Dubbo on Friday night has left a family of five children without a mum or dad as both parents were pronounced dead at the scene.

The colleague of a mum who was one of four people killed in a shocking two-vehicle crash near Dubbo in NSW last week says she will be greatly missed.

Lochie Jacobs, 18, his best friend Joey Urban, 19, and couple Sue and Graham Tait, both aged 57, were killed when a ute and a van collided on the Newell Hwy in Tomingley on Friday, September 27.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Four people dead after deadly car crash on Newell Highway

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The teenagers were travelling in the ute alongside a 23-year-old driver, who managed to survive the crash.

Amii Marchant, a colleague of Sue’s at Parkes Early Childhood Centre, described her as a “beloved teacher and assistant director”.

Marchant explained Sue and Graham were coming home from holiday when tragedy struck.

“She’d actually been on leave for a week,” she told 7NEWS.

“Graham was really into cars, and they’d gone to Sydney and up to the Gold coast to pick up some car parts.

“They were on their way home when the incident occurred ... so yeah, really sad.”

Marchant added Sue was a pleasure to work with.

“Sue was always here,” she said.

“She was the most reliable and consistent educator ... she was a level headed, sensible person, she always made the right decisions.

“She had the most infectious laugh ... that will be one big thing that’s missing.”

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old driver has been arrested after he was treated at Dubbo Hospital for leg injuries.

He was charged with a series of offences including four counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, not properly wearing a seatbelt, and driving two passengers who were also not properly wearing seatbelts.

The man was given conditional bail to appear before Dubbo Local Court in October.

Sue and Graham from Parkes leave behind five children aged between 16 and 26 years old.

Sue and Graham Tait died at the scene of the crash on the Newell Hwy at Tomingley.
Sue and Graham Tait died at the scene of the crash on the Newell Hwy at Tomingley. Credit: Parkes Early Childhood Centre/Facebook
Two teenagers killed in the crash were identified as Joey Urban and Lochie Jacobs.
Two teenagers killed in the crash were identified as Joey Urban and Lochie Jacobs. Credit: 7NEWS

The pair have been remembered for the work within the local community, with Parkes Shire Council Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee saying their contribution “would not be forgotten”.

Tributes for Urban and Jacobs have also been flowing online, with Urban’s sister posting a photo of the pair, saying he was the “best brother a sister could ask for”.

“I love you so incredibly much, you will be missed by so many,” she said.

“I will drink a few Toohey’s for you.”

A friend of the two boys posted that they were “two of the best blokes anyone could ask for”.

“Rest easy boys.”

Originally published on 7NEWS

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