They lived together, worked together and, tragically, died together.
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Dylan Caukwell, 28, and Josh Larsen-Church, 25, were killed on Sunday night when their Ford Ranger four-wheel-drive left Masonite Road at Tomago, north of Newcastle, rolled onto its side, slid for 85 metres and crashed into a power pole.
The force of the impact snapped the power pole like a twig about two metres above its base, the Newcastle Herald reported.
Port Stephens police were investigating whether speed was a factor in the crash, which closed Masonite Road for seven hours as officers worked to piece together what happened.
Mr Caukwell and Mr Larsenchurch are believed to have been housemates in a Raymond Terrace premises and workmates at a Heatherbrae business.
It was unclear why they were travelling towards Raymond Terrace on Masonite Road, which runs from Cabbage Tree Road to the Pacific Highway, about 9.30pm.
The car was rounding a bend when it rolled onto its side and hurtled towards the pole.
The men's deaths were two of six fatalities on the state's roads in three days, including that of a 75-year-old man who crashed into a guard rail on the Pacific Highway near the Tea Gardens turn-off on Friday night, and took the year's toll to 206.
"The vehicle was either travelling too fast or something has happened to make that vehicle lose control and hit that power pole," Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, of the Traffic and Highway Patrol, said on Monday.
Assistant Commissioner Hartley said that the pain and suffering of six families across this weekend should be enough for road users to rethink their behaviour.
"Drivers who continue to speed, drink or drug drive, drive fatigued or distracted by a mobile phone and with passengers not wearing seat belts continue to place themselves at risk," he said.
"For motorcycle riders, safe riding and wearing proper clothing greatly reduces the risk of serious injury or death in a crash.
"Pedestrians need to take extra care by crossing in a designated or controlled crossing area, be able to be seen by other road users, not be distracted by portable music or a phone, and not misjudge oncoming traffic.
