At 4.26pm today 27/12/2013 police and emergency services attended a report of a single vehicle crash on Loongana Road at Loongana in the Leven Canyon area.

Police arrived to find a 20 year old male German tourist injured on the roadway and his vehicle, a Mitsubishi Delicia 4wd van 25 vertical meters down an embankment, resting upside down on a tree just above the Leven River.

Crash Investigators, Search and Rescue personnel, Forensic Services and Central Coast SES attended the scene and located a deceased 18 year old German female trapped within the wreckage.

Considerable efforts were required to remove the deceased from the vehicle and back up to the roadway.

The male driver of the van was conveyed to the North West Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The area in which the crash occurred is quite remote. The roadway was constructed of compacted gravel with loose edges. The road is only just wide enough for two vehicles to pass.
It appeared the driver lost control of the vehicle and crossed to the incorrect side of the road. He appears to have attempted to regain control however it rolled off the side and down towards the river.

At the time the crash occurred, the road was dry and the weather was fine and clear. Crash investigators would like to speak with anyone who saw the vehicle in the area to contact the Burnie Police Station.

A coronial inquest has been opened into the matter.

Police have not released any names until next of kin have been notified.