A crash in rural NSW that killed four people is now being treated as a possible homicide, nearly three months after the ute in which they were travelling veered off the road and rolled.
The group’s blue Mazda BT50 crashed on Back Channel Rd at Wardell, south of Ballina on the NSW north coast about 5.45am on Saturday February 24.
The male driver and three passengers — two men and a woman — were all declared dead at the scene.
NSW Police on Tuesday said a homicide probe had been launched into the fatal incident after an initial crash investigation.
Detectives launched the probe under Strike Force Land.
Superintendent Scott Tanner told reporters they were seeking information on a second car linked to the crash, an early 2000s silver Toyota Corolla sedan.
“We believe that vehicle was chasing the Mazda BT50 just prior to the accident,” he said.
“I want to really state that there are now four families out there that have lost loved ones as a result of this homicide.
“We believe there are people in the community that know who was involved in this, and we are urging them to come forward.”
Tanner added the family and friends of the four killed were “quite upset and very distressed”.
“Now their trauma has now been exacerbated due to the nature of what we now believe is a homicide … our investigators are speaking to the family continuously,” he said.
Sophie-Lee Fullagar, 24, was earlier identified by friends and family as one of the victims in the horror crash.
In the fresh police appeal, Sophie’s mother said her daughter was an “innocent victim”.
“Sophie was a really beautiful girl she had a heart of gold … she had pure intentions as a person, she always wanted the best for everybody,” she told reporters.
“She never wished harm or ever wanted to hurt anybody, she was always full of joy and love… she was a really pure soul.
“She deserves justice… they all deserve justice because they were all people, and they all have families.”
Investigations are ongoing.
– With AAP
