TV actress, sister fight for life in hospital after parents killed in crash

Australian television actress Jessica Falkholt and her sister are clinging to life after a horrific crash that killed both of their parents on the Princes Highway on the NSW south coast.

The 28-year-old former Home and Away actress and her sister Annabelle, 21, are in a critical condition in hospital following the crash at Bendalong on Tuesday that also killed another man in a second car.

Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit were quick to the scene closing the Princes Highway in both directions for several hours as the pair were airlifted to hospital.

"Those families will no doubt be feeling the pain and suffering of losing a loved one this close to Christmas," Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Phil Brooks said.

Among those leading the pleas for drivers to slow down and take care is racing legend Dick Johnson.

On the track he led a high octane existence but always knew safety came first.

"Most people are driving tired or driving with alcohol or drugs in their system and that in effect is a huge issue," he said.

NSW Police's Operation Safe Arrival runs for 18 days over the Christmas and New Year period.

Since this year's operation began 21 people have died compared with nine for the same time last year.

Overall the 2017 NSW Road Toll currently sits at 387.

Police have revealed they have been doing everything they can do to curb the rising toll including having nearly 400 marked cars and motorbikes on the state's roads leading police to believe these crashes are happening due to human error.

Dick Johnson says the government should fund mandatory education classes for high school students.

"It's not something that will cost them millions of dollars but what does cost them millions of dollars is the fact people are dying on our roads."