A Bangladeshi man has been charged with eight dangerous driving offences over a horror crash that killed two other international students in Newcastle, New South Wales, and injured a fourth.
A Toyota Corolla burst into flames after hitting a power pole on Maitland Road at Mayfield East at about 11.15pm on Saturday, with four people inside. All are understood to be from Bangladesh and studying at the University of Newcastle.
Two passengers, 20 and 21, needed to be freed from the burning wreck by emergency services but died a short time after being taken to John Hunter Hospital with critical burns.
Members of the public assisted the driver, 24, and a back-seat passenger, 19, and both were taken to the same hospital suffering minor injuries, and Crash Investigation Unit officers opened a probe into the crash.
On Tuesday the driver was charged with eight offences, including two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and negligent driving occasioning death.
He was refused bail to face Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday.
The University of Newcastle has offered support to students and staff, and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Belinda Tynan described the crash as a “tragic loss”, ABC News reported.
“Our university community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two of our students over the weekend,” she said.
“Our deepest sympathies are with their families and friends.”
NSW Police said they were now working with the High Commission of Bangladesh.
Header image: The car in flames after the crash (Colin Rothapfel).
