A passenger of a car that crashed into a New South Wales weir has been confirmed dead. The 20-year-old man was unable to escape the vehicle before it became submerged in the dark waters of Audley Weir in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, around 1:15 am on Wednesday.
Recovery operation
Police divers retrieved the young passenger's body, and the car was pulled from the water at approximately 10:20 am. The passenger is yet to be formally identified, according to NSW Police.
The driver, also a 20-year-old man, managed to free himself from the sinking blue Audi and reach safety. It remains unclear how long it took for the car to become fully submerged.
Two vehicles involved
NSW Police Acting Inspector Steven Planinic stated that two cars were involved in the incident. Police allege the Audi crashed into a silver Mercedes, allegedly driven by an 18-year-old man, before entering the water. Both drivers are currently in custody and being interviewed at Sutherland Police Station.
A passenger from the Mercedes is voluntarily at the police station providing information about what happened, Planinic said.
Investigation ongoing
Police are investigating whether the two cars were racing, but have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash. Roadside blood alcohol testing returned negative results, and the drivers were taken to hospital for mandatory blood testing. No charges have been laid at this stage.
Planinic described the circumstances as tragic and noted difficult conditions for rescue crews. Investigations, including a mechanical examination of the Audi, are ongoing.
