Three Die in Jugiong Crash 10 December 1979

The Canberra Times

Three youths were killed and another seriously injured when a semi-trailer and a car collided on the Hume Highway; at Jugiong, 39 kilometres north of Gundagai, at the weekend.

Two of the youths were incinerated when the car burst into flames on impact and two were thrown clear.

Police said the car, which was making a right-hand turn near the Jugiong Hotel, was pushed backwards, into a service station and hit three petrol bowsers.  

Killed were Mr Kenneth Frederick Cribb, 16, Mr Graeme Douglas, Bell, 17, and Mr Colin McDonald, 17, all of Tumut.

The injured youth, who is also 17, was flown to Sydney early yesterday by air ambulance with burns to 50 per cent of his head and body.

He is in a serious condition in Royal North Shore Hospital and has not regained consciousness.  

Police said that the petrol bowsers, although flattened by the force of the smash, did not explode.

The fire was extinguished by the Jugiong fire brigade.