Tamworth dentist Dr Harshwardhan Narde has been named as the man behind the wheel of Monday night's fiery fatal north of Willow Tree.
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The ex-boyfriend of Sydney dentist Preethi Reddy, whose body was found in a suitcase on Tuesday, died after he deliberately drove his car into the path of a semi-trailer south of Tamworth on Monday night, police have revealed.
Dr Reddy's body was found in her car, parked in Sydney's east, after she was reported missing when she didn't return home to Penrith on Sunday. Police said she had been stabbed numerous times.
The 32-year-old spoke to her family on Sunday morning about 11am, telling them she was planning on a late breakfast before heading home.
Dr Reddy and her ex-boyfriend, Tamworth dentist Dr Narde, had stayed in a hotel in Market Street in Sydney's CBD on Saturday night.
Dr Narde then died on Monday night when his BMW crashed head on on the New England Highway, Willow Tree.
We will miss him beyond words. He touched many peoples lives and we will always remember him with his big cheeky smile.
- Oasis Smiles Dental
That crash, which occurred about 10pm, is "believed to be a deliberate act," police said.
Dr Narde worked at Oasis Smiles Dental in Tamworth. A post on the surgery Facebook page made on Tuesday night, before Dr Reddy's body was found, said it was with "great sadness we announce the tragic passing of our beloved Harsh".
"We will miss him beyond words. He touched many peoples lives and we will always remember him with his big cheeky smile," the surgery said.
On Friday, Dr Reddy had driven her car to a dental conference in St Leonards, on the north shore.
She was later captured on CCTV footage inside McDonald's at the Strand Arcade, in the Sydney CBD, about 2.15am on Sunday.
She was then seen leaving the store alone, and walking south on Market Street.
Dr Reddy was captured on CCTV in the Market Street hotel lobby after visiting the McDonald's, but police are continuing to investigate where she was overnight on Sunday.
It is thought that Dr Reddy may have gone to Dr Narde’s hotel to re-affirm that their relationship was truly over.
Friends of Dr Reddy say that after the break-up several years ago, she was very firm that it was over and didn’t want to see him any more.
Investigators believe that Dr Narde did not accept that, and had in fact attended the weekend conference purely in order to see her.
About 9.30pm on Tuesday, police found her car parked in Strachan Street in Kingsford, with her body in a suitcase inside.
Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the deadly crash involving her ex-boyfriend.
After the collision, the semi-trailer veered across the road and through a railing before bursting into flames and falling on its side.
The 49-year-old male truck driver managed to extricate himself from the cabin before the entire truck was destroyed by fire. He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
Support is available for those who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636.
9AM WEDNESDAY UPDATE:
POLICE believe the man that died in a fiery crash on Monday night south of Tamworth deliberately drove into an oncoming truck.
Investigators are working with Sydney detectives who are probing the disappearance and murder of a Sydney woman.
The man, aged in his thirties who is believed to be from Calala in Tamworth, died when his BMW sedan slammed head-on in to the fruit and vegetable-laden truck about 10.10pm.
The investigation is being led by Oxley police who have confirmed preliminary inquiries show it "is believed to be a deliberate act".
It follows investigations into the disappearance of Preethi Reddy, aged 32, who was reported missing by her family on Sunday, after she failed to come home from a dental convention at St Leonards.
Further inquiries have established that Preethi stayed at a hotel on Market Street, Sydney CBD, on Sunday with a man known to her, who died in the crash north of Willow Tree on Monday night.
Strike Force Carlwood investigators have since confirmed the man's identity following investigations with Oxley police.
Following an appeal for information to the community, Preethi’s vehicle was located parked on Strachan Street, Kingsford, about 9.30pm on Tuesday.
During a search of the vehicle, police located Preethi’s body in a suitcase. She had been stabbed numerous times.
Investigations are continuing.
Support is available for those who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636.
EARLIER - TUESDAY
THE man killed in a fiery head-on crash near Willow Tree is believed to be a man aged in his thirties.
Police are still trying to piece together the circumstances leading up to the crash on the New England Highway, between Wallabadah and Willow Tree, about 10.10pm on Monday.
Officers believe a truck laden with fruit and vegetables was headed south on the highway when a northbound BMW sedan, being driven by a man, collided head-on, about 1km south of the Howards Road intersection.
The driver of the BMW was killed at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified, police said.
The 49-year-old truck driver managed to escape the cabin, after it tipped, before it erupted in flames.
He was not physically injured and was taken to Quirindi hospital for mandatory testing.
Oxley detectives and forensic police have been examining the crash site, along with other specialist investigators.
Investigators said on Tuesday from Oxley Police District believe the collision was a deliberate act by the BMW driver. A report will be prepared for the information of the NSW Coroner.
EARLIER
A driver has been killed in an overnight crash on the New England Highway near Willow Tree.
The overnight truck and car crash, which resulted in the death of the car driver, saw the New England Highway closed overnight.
The New England Highway has now was reopened about 8.20am this morning under a reduced speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour.
The crash happened on the New England Highway roughly one kilometre south of Howards Road at roughly 10pm last night.
Emergency services warn drivers to reduce their speed, exercise caution and allow extra travel time.
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