Pedestrian dies after vehicle collision on Monaro Highway near Bredbo
A woman believed to be in her 60s has died after being struck by a vehicle on the Monaro Highway in the Snowy Monaro region on Friday evening.
Emergency services were called to the scene approximately one kilometre south of Bredbo at about 6.30pm following reports of a pedestrian collision. The small village, with a population of around 392 residents, is located 34 kilometres north of Cooma on the major regional highway.
Officers from Monaro Police District attended alongside NSW Ambulance paramedics, who treated the woman at the scene. Despite their efforts, she died from her injuries. The woman has not yet been formally identified.
The driver, a 54-year-old man, was uninjured in the collision. He was taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing, a requirement under NSW law for all drivers involved in fatal crashes. This legislation has been in place since 2006.
Investigation underway
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Motorists were urged to avoid the area while localised traffic diversions were established on the Monaro Highway, a 285-kilometre route linking Cann River in Victoria to Canberra that serves as a key freight, commuter and recreational corridor to the NSW snow fields.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Concerning pedestrian safety trends
The incident comes amid concerning trends in pedestrian safety across NSW. In the 12 months ending January 2026, the state recorded 54 pedestrian fatalities, representing a 15.7 per cent increase compared to the 2023-2025 average of 46.7 deaths. More than 1,100 pedestrians are struck on NSW roads each year, with research showing that pedestrians hit by a vehicle travelling at 50km/h are twice as likely to die as those struck at 40km/h.
While pedestrian fatalities nationally have decreased by 39.4 per cent from 287 in 2000 to 174 in 2024, recent years have seen increases following pandemic-era lows, highlighting ongoing challenges in road safety.
