A "horrific" crash between a Mack truck and a Toyota Corolla has killed a teenage girl and her baby son in Tasmania.
The 16-year-old mother and two-month-old boy were rushed to hospital in critical condition after the crash near Wynyard, in Tasmania's north on Tuesday at about 5.15pm.
The baby died soon after and the mother overnight, while the 19-year-old driver on Wednesday remained in hospital in a stable condition.
"Early (investigations) tend to indicate the driver of the car failed to give way to the prime mover travelling along the highway as it entered the intersection (and) as a result that accident occurred," acting police Inspector Stewart Williams told reporters.
A section of Deep Creek Road where it meets the Bass Highway remains closed as crash investigators continue their work.
The family was reportedly from the small northwest town of Henrietta but their names have not been released.
Several people witnessed the crash and the truck driver was taken to hospital suffering shock.
"Bearing in mind the mental state this driver must be in at this time, (the crash) is a clear reminder that inattention on our roads leads to tragedy and death," Insp Williams said.
He described the collision - between a decades old Toyota Corolla and a Mack truck with bullbar - as horrific.
"I think you can imagine how chaotic the scene would have been, how distressing the scene would have been," he added.
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