DRIVER ignorance is believed to be the prevailing cause for the devastating crash that claimed the life of a much-loved Wallangarra woman last week.
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Police were called to the crash scene south of Stanthorpe at around 6.50pm on Wednesday, March 18 after a Holden Commodore station wagon collided head-on with the woman’s car.
Emergency services attended the scene but the woman was unable to be revived and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Wallangarra's Maria Wyeth has been named as the woman who was killed.
The 44-year-old is believed to have moved to the area 12 months ago with husband Gary and daughter Colleen.
Ms Wyeth and Colleen were both employed at the Ballandean Tavern.
A 21-year-old German national who was behind the wheel of the station wagon is expected to be charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.
Despite earlier assertions from NSW Police Media, the man has yet to be charged after he was taken to Toowoomba Hospital following the accident.
“Not at this point he hasn’t, no,” Stanthorpe Police Senior Sergeant Mark Ireland said.
“It’s expected police will speak to him in the next coming days and hopefully he will aid in the investigation.”
Police will allege the man was travelling along the New England Highway with two male passengers on the incorrect side of the road before crashing head-on into Ms Wyeth’s Holden Barina.
The three men in the station wagon were transported from the scene with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the Commodore was breath tested but the result was negative for drink-driving.
Sgt Ireland said sadly “driver ignorance” was the cause of the crash.
“Our investigations and discussions with him indicate he was driving in the opposite side of the road like he does at home,” he said.
The investigation is ongoing.