THE Elmore community is reeling after a four-person fatality at Burramboot.
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The head-on collision occurred just before 10pm on Saturday night on the Heathcote-Rochester Road.
Two teenagers were travelling south in a Holden sedan, which veered off the road and collided with a 4WD travelling in the other direction.
The 18-year-old driver from Bendigo and his 19-year-old passenger from Elmore, and a 53-year-old and 52-year-old, both from Rochester, were killed in the collision.
A 21-year-old continues to fight for his life at the Alfred Hospital, an 18-year-old remains in a serious but stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and a 28-year-old sustained minor injuries.
None of the people involved have been formally identified.
Elmore Football Club president Andrew Holmberg said the tragedy had hit the small town hard.
"It's devastating - so sad," he said.
"It certainly makes you stop and think and has absolutely sent shock waves through Elmore.
"I have a son who turns 18 in July who will be getting a licence, and as a parent things like this highlight that safety aspect even greater."
He said the four-person fatality had deeply affected the tight-knit community, with most people knowing one another.
"It's just a tragedy for the families and very very traumatising for the police who attended the scene," he said.
"We all found out about the crash while volunteering at the Elmore B&S ball that night and it was definitely a shock, for sure."
Bendigo Police have confirmed the two teenagers were not at the Elmore B&S ball prior to the crash.
However Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said "excessive speed" and possibly alcohol had been a factor, with witnesses also reporting "hoon behaviour" shortly before the crash.
He said it was believed the young driver of the Holden and his passenger had been consuming large amounts of alcohol throughout the day.