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An Australian mother and her son have been killed in a horror crash in the US state of California, after a ute travelled onto the wrong side of the road.
Local media outlets reported that a Toyota Tacoma was driving on the wrong side of Highway 85 in San Jose at 3.40pm on Monday (local time) when it collided with the pair’s Tesla in a head-on collision.
Australian-born Rebecca Olsen, aged 47, and her 14-year-old son Charlie Olsen died at the scene.
California Highway Patrol San Jose confirmed that the crash had shut down the highway as police investigated the incident, on a post to X.
Local media outlets later confirmed the identity of Rebecca and Charlie Olsen, with Rebecca’s ex-husband and Charlie’s father, Cameron Olsen, taking to Reddit to issue a statement about the crash.
“Charlie was my son – he was 14 and the most incredible young man. He was my world,” the post read,” his father Cameron said in the post.
“He was my best friend, my travel buddy and the only person I ever truly felt at home with.
“Losing a child is the ultimate nightmare for a parent.
“This week has been a roller coaster of both functional and emotional elements. It feels like it has been weeks and I know the next few months will be hell.”
In his Reddit post, he thanked the San Jose community for welcoming his family into the area, and told drivers to be safe on the roads and slow down.
Footage obtained by CNN shows the ute allegedly speeding and driving on the wrong side of the road moments before the collision.
The driver of the truck was taken to hospital with major injuries, NBC reported.
Cameron and Rebecca were both born in Australia and moved to the UK, where Charlie was born, according to US media outlets.
The couple then moved to the US 12 years ago as Cameron works for a local IT company.
DFAT has been contacted for comment.
