Two people are dead following the crash which occurred 100 metres from Timber Ridge Road on the Great Western Highway near Yetholme at around 10.20pm.

Inspector Adam Pow-derly, from the Metropo- litan Crash Investigation Unit, which is leading the investigation, said police were following a number of lines of enquiry, and are yet to establish the cause of the crash.

Inspector Powderly said the car, a Ford Festiva, was travelling along the Great Western Highway at Yetholme, about 17 kilometres east of Bathurst when the vehicle veered and left the roadway, hitting a tree.

Emergency services were called, however the front passenger, an 18-year-old woman from Young, died at the scene.

The 24-year-old male driver, who is also from Young, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Orange Hospital.

A 31-year-old Lithgow woman, travelling in the rear of the car, suffered multiple fractures and was taken to Liverpool Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition.

A 21-year-old Cootamundra man, who was also travelling in the back of the car, was airlifted to Liverpool Hospital. He died yesterday [Wednesday] morning in Liverpool Hospital.

Inspector Powderly said the surviving woman underwent surgery to her leg yesterday, and the driver of the car remains in Orange Base Hospital. Neither has life threatening injuries. 

Inspector Powderly said officers attached to the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit attended and were investigating the events leading up to the crash, and were looking a number of possible causes including the condition of the road, environmental factors, speed, fatigue, driver inattention and alcohol and/or other illicit substances.

He said the investigation into the fatality was in its infancy and called for any witnesses to come forward via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Inspector Powderly said the impact of crashes, particularly in closely knit rural areas, lasted long after the headlines had faded.

“It is not just those immediately involved in the crash and their families that carry the memories of what happened but also the doctors, nurses, police, paramedics, fire fighters and members of the public who attend the crash,” he said.