The horror start to the year takes the region’s 2017 road toll to eight –  three more than the same time last year. Road deaths in the country have more than doubled those in metropolitan areas so far this year, prompting calls for a heightened police presence in regional areas. 

Wagga Highway Patrol’s Senior Sergeant Chris Upton hopes the tragedies will serve as a reminder to drivers that everything can change in a split second.

“These people, for the most part, would have left their families without a second thought – planning to turn home a few hours later,” he said.

“Instead, they’re no longer alive. Anybody who enters a vehicle has to face the reality that there’s a very small possibility they won’t return home.

“Speeding is still a sizeable factor in serious accidents and fatalities.” He said police will continue to be relentless on negligent driving.

“We understand that often the driver is doing nothing wrong when these fatal accidents happen – but we’re still going to do as much as possible to stop them,” Senior Sergeant Upton said.

Tolland special education bus driver Steven Reeve was one of five fatal car accident victims in February after a horror crash on Bourke Street.

Mr Reeve passed away two days after the collision, leaving his immediate family heartbroken. It is believed the 65-year-old suffered a “medical episode” which caused him to lose control and collide with a power pole. 

Mr Reeve’s son told of the devastation that followed his father’s death. 

“It is something that you can’t prepare yourself for,” he said.

“Words can’t even begin to describe it.

“I remember when I heard about dad, my stomach dropped and I just felt sick. He will be greatly missed.”

Last year 375 people were killed on roads across the state. Across the South West region, 28 people lost their lives.