Police say the accident happened on a straight stretch of road heading uphill on the Murringo Road out of Young.

Acting Inspector Young Police Michael Madgwick said the accident was avoidable.

“One car was slowing down to turn into its driveway and the blue car with the elderly ladies in it did not slow down and hit that car from behind,” he said. “The blue car was obeying the speed limit, the accident was not fatigue nor alcohol related, it was a very avoidable accident.”

Ambulance Inspector Stephen Pollard said Paramedics were called out to the scene at 3:15 on Thursday afternoon. 

“We arrived at the scene on the Murringo Road, 500 metres east of the showgrounds to find one vehicle on its side with one elderly female trapped inside the overturned vehicle,” he said.

“There was a second patient that had been removed from that vehicle before we arrived. The single occupant of second car was uninjured and was not transported to hospital.”

Mr Pollard said the two elderly patients were transported to Young District Hospital, one in a critical condition.

“That patient has been airlifted by the Canberra Base Rescue helicopter to Canberra Hospital,” he said.

“The other patient was assessed at the Young Hospital to be in a satisfactory condition and was admitted for observation, her condition changed overnight and she was transferred by road ambulance to the Canberra Hospital.”