Emergency services were called to Back Channel Road near Wardell about 5.45am on February 24, 2024.

Police officers who arrived at the scene found a blue Mazda ute had left the road and crashed into a tree.

All four people in the car died and were later identified as driver Mark Dodds, 36, and passengers Sophie-Lee Fullagar, 33, Benjamin Watego, 50, and James Doherty, 42.

Police will allege that a man in another car attempted to rob the people in the ute, which caused the car to hit a tree, killing the four occupants.

After extensive inquiries, police said they had arrested a 29-year-old man yesterday at Coffs Harbour Police Station.

He was charged with four counts of murder, attempted armed robbery, and causing grievous bodily harm.

Police will allege that the 29-year-old man and some of the victims were known to each other.

NSW Police Acting Superintendent Grant Erickson said the accused man was known to frequent the area and had previous dealings with police.

Detectives spoke to the family of the victims this morning.

“This was a tragedy, this will never change the circumstances of what occurred,” Acting Superintendent Grant Erickson said.

He was refused bail and appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court yesterday.

There, he was formally refused bail and will appear again in Lismore Local Court on May 14.

Police said their investigation is ongoing.