Sydney sisters Jessica and Annabelle Falkholt are in a critical condition two days after being injured in a car crash on the NSW South Coast that claimed the lives of their parents.
The family from the Sydney suburb of Ryde had been returning home about 10.45am on Boxing Day when they collided head-on with a 50-year-old male driver while coming off the Princes Highway near Sussex Inlet.
The male driver was killed upon impact. The identities of the Falkholt parents were later confirmed through dental records as the remains were burnt in the explosion.
New South Wales Police have confirmed that 29-year-old actress Jessica Falkholt and her sister Annabelle, 21, are in a critical condition.
They were airlifted to separate Sydney hospitals: Jessica to St George Hospital and Annabelle to Liverpool Hospital.
A NIDA graduate, Jessica has appeared on soap opera Home and Away and also in Underbelly: Badness.
Police visited her family's home in Ryde but, after finding no one at home, tracked down extended family members.
"Sadly those family members are travelling to the St George and Liverpool Hospitals to engage with their loved ones who are very much in a critical condition at this time," Highway Patrol Chief Inspector Phil Brooks said.
The number of road fatalities in the state since December 15 has reached 21, an increase of 14 people compared to last year.
Seven of the recent fatalities were in the last 24 hours.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said safety needs to be front of mind.
“There is nothing worse for any police officer than to knock on a door to tell someone their loved one has died,” he said.
“Many of these incidents are totally preventable if people would just slow down, rest and not be distracted during their trip.”
- with AAP
