Two people are dead after a single vehicle crash on the Monaro Hwy near Cooma on Sunday morning.
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Three people, including the driver, were injured after suffering head wounds in the crash, with the driver and a passenger being airlifted to Canberra Hospital.
A back-seat 22-year-old female passenger was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and died at the scene.
The male front seat passenger also died at the scene of the crash, near Rose Valley Rd, Bunyan, about 10km north of Cooma.
NSW police initially believed a female child had been killed in the accident, but said later the female was an adult.
Police had yet to confirm the cause of the crash but said high speed was a factor.
Queanbeyan police Inspector Sandy Green said she still had to remind passing motorists to slow down and put their seat belts on.
"I am a 26-year police officer and I am mystified about why these things happen and people are not wearing their seat belts and not driving to conditions," Inspector Green said.
She said it was an "absolutely tragic" scene which still effected the emergency services who attended.
"It is rather daunting. When I arrived on the scene I was taken aback," she said.
"This is a life-changing situation for all those emergency services, for every person that went past that accident today.
"And particularly for those occupants in that car and their families.
"I cannot stress enough about driving to conditions and driving to the speed and resting and taking turns in driving.
"This is horrendous."
Emergency services were called to the crash site at about 3.40am after reports a grey Mazda 6 sedan travelling south had left the road.
The fully-loaded car rolled multiple times before landing on its roof.
"The back-seat passenger ... and a front-seat male passenger, were declared deceased at the scene," police said in a statement.
"The driver and two other passengers were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Cooma Hospital."
The 22-year-old male driver had a serious head laceration.
The two male passengers, both 19 years old, had superficial head lacerations.
All three survivors were taken to Cooma Hospital before the driver and one of the passengers were airlifted to Canberra Hospital.
Police were in attendance at Canberra Hospital to check on the driver's welfare.
Monaro police established a crime scene that was examined by the Crash Investigation Unit.
Inspector Green said high speed was a factor but said investigators were still establishing the cause, including whether fatigue played a role.
"When you're in the car ... remind your driver about resting and remind them about speed and driving to the conditions," she said.
"We as a community need to stamp this out."
She said the three survivors were "exceptionally lucky" to make it out alive.
The dead passengers are yet to be identified.
"Everybody needs to slow down and take care on the road and be patient. Be kind and patient," Inspector Green said.
"I think we all need a good piece of human kindness in this world."
