The drivers of two vehicles involved in yesterday's fatal crash remain in a stable condition at the Launceston General Hospital.

The crash, which occurred about 3.30pm about one-kilometre north of Brady's Lookout, claimed the lives of two people.

Police had previously confirmed the victims were a 45-year-old woman and 75-year-old man.

However, it has now been confirmed that it was a 75-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man who died in the crash.

The next of kin have been notified.

Further details are expected this afternoon after crash investigations are completed.

EARLIER:

A tragic two-vehicle smash on the West Tamar Highway has claimed the lives of two people, while another two were left seriously injured.

The two people who died in the crash were confirmed as being a 75-year-old woman and 45-year-old man, both from Tasmania, who were passengers in a car travelling north towards Exeter.

The crash left the highway completely blocked about one-kilometre north of Brady's Lookout while Tasmania Police pieced together what led to the horrific event.

Tasmania Police Inspector Scott Flude said initial investigations painted a grim picture.

"It appears one car has crossed over onto the incorrect side of the road and come into contact with the railing and then travelled down that railing," he said.

He said after travelling along the railing that car and the second vehicle, a van, had collided.

Inspector Flude said three people had been in the car which hit the railing, with the two passengers of that car being killed in the crash.

Both drivers had been transferred to the Launceston General Hospital in a serious condition.

Inspector Flude said investigations had shown it appeared to have been raining heavily at the time of the crash, which occurred in a section of the highway where the speed limit was 100km/h.

He said he expected the highway to remain closed for another two to three hours.

Investigations continued into the late hours of Friday night as Tasmania Police worked to also identify the next of kin of the deceased.

The two fatalities brought the state's road toll to 25 for 2021, marking another dark day in a particularly lethal July and August in Tasmania.

The road toll climbed to sit six higher than what it was at the same time in 2020.

READ MORE: Download our news app today

In those two months alone there were nine fatalities recorded on Tasmanian roads.

Friday's double-fatality was the third double-fatality recorded on highways in the north of the state in the space of 41 days.

It came after crashes on the Bass Highway at Exton on July 10 and the Midland Highway at Campbell Town on July 19 resulted in the deaths of four people.

Inspector Flude said the wet conditions around the time of the crash had resulted in Tasmania Police having had five crashes reported to them in the Northern policing district alone in the space of two-to-three hours.

"Today has been a bit rainy, and unfortunately we're going to crashes again," he said.

"It has been frustrating to the officers, let alone families that have lost loved ones.

"We've had way too many fatalities lately here in the north.

"We just ask people to drive to the conditions so we're not attending these sorts of incidents. "

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: