A father behind an horrific act of violence which left one woman dead and another traumatised for life has been identified as Keith Mitton.

The welder, from the Perth suburb of Landsdale, stabbed his girlfriend before fleeing and driving head-on into nurse and mum, Elaine Gee, killing them both.

The deadly crash, on a Tasmanian highway, has rattled the community.

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“It was confronting, it was traumatic and it was chaotic,” Tasmania Police Detective Inspector Stuart Greenwood said..

“It was a very distressing scene for all emergency services and members of the public who happened to witness it.”

Mitton stabbed his partner of about six months at a home in Exeter, a small town about 20 minutes from Launceston, on Friday afternoon.

He then drove wildly down the West Tamar Hwy where his Skoda slammed into Gee’s Nissan Navara at Legana.

Both vehicles were engulfed by flames.

Perth man Keith Mitton stabbed his partner and killed another woman in a crash on Friday. Credit: 7NEWS

Perth man Keith Mitton stabbed his partner and killed another woman in a crash on Friday. Credit: 7NEWS

A friend of Mitton described him as a ticking time bomb, and said “there was just no help”.

“We had been trying to get him help for months and months and months,” Woody Churchill said.

“All we kept getting told was ‘we don’t have room or there’s no vacancies, or you’ve got to go on a waiting list’.

“There was just no help. No one wanted to help him.”

Churchill was shocked at the lives his friend had torn apart.

“The innocent nurse ... it strengthens my point. It’s just a waste. This should never have happened,” he said.

Friends have created a GoFundMe for Elaine Gee who died in a crash on Friday Credit: Gofundme/Rod Gee

The community has wrapped their arms around the woman attacked by her partner.

Her family are grateful she survived but she faces a physical and emotional recovery.

“The road ahead will be long,” loved ones said in a GoFundMe.

“Any assistance will help ease the financial pressure on the family and allow them to focus on healing, safety and giving the girls the care they need.

“This has been a horrific tragedy for everyone involved.”

Gee, 39, was driving home from work when she was killed.

“What was supposed to be Elaine’s 40th birthday will now be her funeral,” loved one said on an online fundraiser.

“To say Elaine’s family and friends are devastated beyond words is an understatement.”

If you or anyone you know is in need or crisis please call the National Domestic Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline 13 11 14.