BY DAKOTA TAIT
The Pacific Highway is now clear, after an earlier accident near Ntaba Road at Jewells on Wednesday morning.
It's understood a car rolled over in the northbound lanes.
A teenage boy, believed to be behind the wheel, was taken to Belmont Hospital for minor injuries.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Friends and family are paying tribute to a woman who was tragically killed at Woolworths Jesmond last week.
Malerato Harrison, a contract cleaner at the supermarket, was found with fatal injuries on Friday morning.
Paramedics declared her dead at the scene.
Police believe the 39-year-old was crushed by cleaning equipment after it reversed onto her, and do not believe her death is suspicious.
Ms Harrison had moved to Newcastle from South Africa, living with her husband and his two children.
Woolworths says it is providing support to her loved ones.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
A Hunter Rugby veteran is being honoured after his tragic death in a cycling accident at Scone over the weekend.
Mark Heanly died after falling off his bike during a group ride at Upper Dartbrook on Saturday morning.
It's believed his bike slipped while crossing a culvert and he fell and struck his head.
The 59-year-old couldn't be revived and died at the scene.
The Scone local played 125 games for University, including as part of the 1988 premiership-winning first-grade side.
BY IAN CROUCH
Firefighters are mopping up after fire tore through a single level villa at Mount Hutton on Tuesday morning.
9 fire trucks and more than 30 firefighters arrived just after 9.15am at the Cowmeadow Road address to find the villa totally involved in fire and the roof starting to collapse.
The sole male occupant self evacuated and was assessed by paramedics at the scene but was not taken to hospital, while a dog was rescued from the rear of the property.
Neighbours on either side were also evacuated due to the intensity of the fire.
Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue NSW says 20 firefighters were called to another house fire in Main Road at Cardiff Heights just after 10.00am to find smoke issuing from the front window of a weatherboard home.
All the occupants managed to self-evacuate, however an elderly woman is in the care of paramedics.
Crews took about 15 minutes to douse the flames which were contained to the front of the home.
The cause of both fires is not known at this stage.
Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman, Stephen Brown said the fires serve as a timely reminder for residents to ensure they have working smoke alarms in their homes.
EARLIER:
Emergency services have been called to a house fire at Mount Hutton.
Newcastle Fire Command says they received 18 triple-zero calls just after 9.15am on Tuesday reporting a villa on Cowmeadow Road well alight.
The roof of the villa has since collapsed.
Six fire trucks and a Duty Commander are at the scene, and the Ladder Platform from Newcastle is on the way.
There's no word yet on whether anyone is inside the villa.
Smoke from the fire can be seen several suburbs away.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
A now 17-year-old boy will be sentenced next year, over the stabbing murder of a teenager on a Swansea street in September last year.
The 16-year-old could not be revived, while a second 16-year-old victim was rushed to hospital and survived.
The killer made an appearance in Broadmeadow Childrens Court last week, and will return to the Supreme Court for sentencing.
It's understood, he admitted to the charges.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
A cruise ship with COVID cases onboard has skipped its planned Newcastle stop on Tuesday morning.
The Grand Princess was scheduled to reach the Port of Newcastle around 6am, but continued down the coast.
It's understood, the company cancelled the stop late on Monday, because of uncertainty from Hunter New England Health around whether passengers could disembark.
A spokesperson for the health district said the Public Health Unit had applied the Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian Cruise Protocols, asking that all passengers be tested before disembarking.
It's believed there's a large number of infected passengers on the vessel.
"[Hunter New England] had also engaged Princess Cruises on ways to best manage and support those on board with COVID-19," the spokesperson said.
"And how to reduce COVID-19 transmission in regional communities if passengers were to disembark in Newcastle."
It's understood the ship is set to arrive in Melbourne on Thursday, though it's not clear how many passengers are infected with COVID.
BY IAN CROUCH
A 59-year-old cyclist from Scone has died after falling off his bike during a group ride at the weekend.
Police were called to Upper Dartbrook, about 16 km north-west of Scone just before 7.30am on Saturday.
They were told the man was on a regular ride with a group of cyclists when his bike slipped while crossing a culvert and he fell, hitting his head.
His fellow cyclists started CPR until Police and paramedics arrived, but he couldn't be revived and died at the scene.
Hunter Valley police are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A report is being prepared for the Coroner.
BY IAN CROUCH
The crew at Marine Rescue Port Stephens have been kept busy with consecutive rescues in treacherous conditions.
They were called out on Saturday night to assist a 9 metre motor cruiser with fuel problems near Birubi Beach, taking 5 hours to tow the vessel back to Nelson Bay Marina while battling 20 knot winds and large swells.
Just six hours later they were called out to an overturned vessel with two people in the water near Fingal Light.
One suffered a broken leg while the other had cuts to their arms and legs.
They were delivered to Shoal Bay where a waiting ambulance took them to hospital
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| The overturned vessel near Fingal Light Picture: Marine Rescue Port Stephens |
BY IAN CROUCH
A woman has suffered serious injuries in a quad bike accident in the Upper Hunter.
Emergency services and the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter were called to a Mount Thorley property just after midday on Sunday to reports a quad bike had rolled, throwing a woman into a dam.
The 62-year-old suffered serious leg fractures and was treated at the scene before being airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, two Westpac helicopters were called out to Segenhoe east of Scone on Saturday night to a single vehicle crash.
A 28-year-old man was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital with burns while a 24-year-old man was flown to the John Hunter with pelvic and limb injuries.
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| The crash scene at Mount Thorley Picture: Westpac Rescue Helicopter |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
The Property Council of Australia has outlined its wishlist for the Hunter, when it comes to what the next State Government will offer the region.
The industry group wants to see the major parties commit to the region before the March election, such as working with the Commonwealth to establish an infrastructure fund to expand the housing supply, as well as extending the Newcastle mine grouting fund to more regions.
Hunter Regional Director Anita Hugo says they would like to see firm investment in projects such as the Port of Newcastle, the airport expansion, and the Hunter Park sport and entertainment precinct at Broadmeadow, as well as fast rail, light rail extensions, and other transport options to meet the new demand.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
A staff member has died after an industrial accident at Woolworths Jesmond on Friday morning.
Emergency services were called around 7:30am.
The 39-year-old woman suffered fatal injuries and was declared deceased at the scene by paramedics.
It's not believed to be suspicious, but police have established a crime scene and are investigating.
The supermarket is currently closed, though the rest of the shopping centre remains open.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
13 teenagers have been charged across the Hunter after a three-day operation investigating police pursuits and the theft of luxury vehicles.
Strike Force Baste was established as a joint operation by officers from Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens-Hunter, Hunter Valley, and Newcastle City Police Districts, after a number of homes were broken into and luxury vehicles stolen across the region.
The stolen cars were then often allegedly used in further property offences and pursuits.
Police allege the youths used social media platforms to coordinate their actions, locate the vehicles, and livestream the pursuits.
A three-day operation ran from Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 November, in which 13 teens were arrested and taken to Belmont, Waratah, and Cessnock.
Police laid 37 charges, relating to aggravated break and enters, stealing, vehicle theft, dangerous or reckless driving, possession of car-breaking implements, knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, and breach of bail.
All of the teenagers were refused bail before a children's court on Thursday.
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| Detective Inspector Steve Benson. |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
A man has been charged with various traffic offences following a police pursuit in Cessnock on Thursday morning, including a collision with a police constable.
About 12.50am, officers were conducting patrols when they attempted to stop a Mitsubishi Mirage on Cessnock Road.
The Mitsubishi failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated travelling along Duffie Drive before turning onto Aberdare Road.
At the intersection of Quarrybylong Street, the driver of the Mitsubishi lost control and collided with a police vehicle and a male constable standing nearby.
The pursuit was terminated a short time later, before the Mitsubishi was later seen stopped on James Street, though the driver had fled on foot.
With the assistance of Polair and the Dog Unit a man was found hiding in the rear yard of a house on O’Brien Street, about 1.30am.
The 33-year-old disqualified driver was taken to Cessnock police station and charged.
He appeared before Cessnock Local Court later on Thursday, where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court in December.
The constable sought medical treatment for a minor leg injury.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Former Channel 9 sports presenter Cam Williams has pleaded not guilty over a domestic violence incident in the Hunter Valley on the weekend.
He faced Singleton Local Court on Thursday morning, after being arrested around 12:45am on Sunday morning at Cessnock.
It's alleged, the 59-year-old assaulted his wife that same night, the pair staying at a getaway in Howes Valley.
He faces two charges - one of common assault and another of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Police have placed a domestic violence order on Mr Williams, who's expected back in court next January.
The hearing is expected to run for four hours.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
A man has been taken to hospital with a head wound after an alleged attack in a Mayfield street on Tuesday night.
It's understood the 67-year-old was at a Fitzroy Street home around 11:45pm on Tuesday, before going outside to confront three youths allegedly disturbing the peace.
It's claimed one of the trio hit the man on the head with a brick.
Emergency services took the man to hospital in a stable condition.
Police are calling for information, CCTV, and dashcam footage from the public as they investigate the incident.
BY IAN CROUCH
Coal and Freight trains have been brought to a standstill across the Hunter overnight after rail company Pacific National moved to lock out a large part of its workforce.
The Rail Tram and Bus Union says Pacific National has taken the action from midnight due to a dispute over members refusal to work on trains which don't meet safety standards as part of their campaign for a fair enterprise agreement.
Union Secretary Farran Campbell says it's an outrageous attack on Pacific National's workforce and will have an impact on the movement of freight right across the state.
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| Pacific National trains have ground to a halt as an industrial dispute escalates |
BY IAN CROUCH
Around 50 people have been evacuated after a fire broke out in a unit complex at Hamilton South.
Firefighters from five stations were called to the three storey Housing Commission units in Glebe Road just before 3.30am on Thursday to find a top floor unit on fire.
They took just over half an hour to bring the fire under control using hose lines inside the building.
Newcastle Fire Command says a firefighter suffered minor injuries when the ceiling of the unit partially collapsed, but crews managed to contain the fire to the unit of origin.
10 adjoining residents have not been able to return because their units sustained smoke and water damage.
The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.
BY IAN CROUCH
A young family is counting the cost of a devastating house fire at Telarah.
Around 30 firefighters from six stations were called to the single level home on Raymond Street at about 4.30pm on Tuesday to find the house up in flames.
A mother and her five children managed to escape without injury, while twelve people from neighbouring homes were also evacuated.
It took crews more than 3 hours to fully extinguish and mop up the fire which destroyed the home.
The cause is not known at this stage, but the fire is not being treated as suspicious.
A Go Fund Me Page has been set up for the family, who lost everything in the fire.
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| The home on Raymond Street was destroyed in the blaze. |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Firefighters responded to a bushfire at Barry Park in Fingal Bay on Wednesday morning.
The fire was believed to be around 50 metres long, across the treetops.
Crews were able to get the blaze under control within a couple of hours.
No properties were in danger.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
The Federal Government is seeking a briefing from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, after claims aired in Parliament, mine operators across the Hunter and Australia, are lying about coal quality.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie raised the allegations in Canberra on Monday, naming local operators Glencore and Peabody, as well as Anglo-American and Macquarie Bank.
He told Parliament, a whistleblower coal executive has handed over thousands of documents as proof.
The documents are purported to show fraud making out that Australian exports are of higher and cleaner quality than they actually are.
Testing firm ALS has also been implicated, just two years after admitting to falsifying up to 50 percent of results at its Newcastle lab.
The corporate regulator has taken no action on ALS, but four staff members were suspended and then left the company.
If true, the allegations are likely to raise questions about the impact on emissions and the environment, as well as overseas sales and the economy.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Fire crews have responded to a grass fire on the M1 near Holmesville on Tuesday afternoon.
Emergency services received more than 80 phone calls regarding the blaze from 12:30pm.
The fire was on the median strip, and traffic was being impacted near the O'Donnelltown Road bridge.
One southbound lane remains closed.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
The Office of Sport has launched a community survey for locals to have their say on the new sport and recreation centre planned at Morisset.
It's set to replace the former Myuna Bay site, after it was shut due to concern around the integrity of the coal ash dam in the event of an earthquake.
The new centre will be located between Morisset Hospital and Bonnells Bay Public School.
Consultants will use the feedback to put together early designs for the new centre.
You can have your say on the project here.
It's open until December 22.
BY IAN CROUCH
Strong westerly winds have hampered efforts to contain a bushfire at Fullerton Cove.
The Cox's Lane fire has burnt through more than 160 hectares, however no properties were under threat as the fire has been burning towards Stockton Beach.
Lavis Lane was closed overnight but has since been re-opened.
Stockton Beach remains closed.
Meanwhile, crews have been called back to a grass fire at Thornton overnight.
Newcastle Fire Command says they received 16 Triple Zero calls to the fire in Haussman Drive just before 6.00pm on Monday.
Crews had the fire contained but were called back to a re-ignition just before 10.30pm.
The fire burnt out 5 hectares and has now been extinguished.
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| Fire crews were called back to Haussman Drive at Thornton overnight Picture East Maitland Fire & Rescue |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Police have released CCTV images in an appeal to the public for information, after an armed robbery in West Wallsend earlier this year.
About 11.20pm on Sunday 15 May 2022, a man wearing a mask and armed with a firearm and knife, entered a service station on Withers Street.
The man approached the counter and allegedly threatened an employee behind the counter, before demanding money and cigarettes.
The man fled the store on foot, before the 27-year-old male employee, who was uninjured, notified police.
Investigators have released CCTV images of a man who may be able to assist with inquiries.
The man depicted is described as being approximately 170 to 175cm tall, of medium to large build, wearing a black hooded jumper with a ‘Tommy Hilfiger’ motif on the front, black tracksuit pants, black shoes, wearing blue medical gloves and a Guy Fawkes mask.
Lake Macquarie Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Scott Parker says the incident was brazen and posed a significant danger to the employee as well as the community.
"While it’s fortunate no one was physically injured, the trauma inflicted on victims in incidents like this, especially when firearms are involved, can cause long-term damage," he said.
"There are people in the community who would know who this man is. Whether you are a friend or family member, we urge you to do the right thing and contact police."
Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Lake Macquarie Council will be the first council in New South Wales to take part in a 12-month e-scooter trial from December 5.
Transport company Beam, which also runs the city's shared e-bike program, will provide the e-scooters.
Riders will be limited to certain shared paths at a 10km/h speed limit, and only e-scooters provided through the scheme can be used.
The four routes includes the Fernleigh Track, the Croudace Bay foreshore, the Warners Bay foreshore to Glendale, and the Toronto foreshore to Fassifern train station.
They'll be available to people aged 16 and older.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
A woman's been treated for smoke inhalation and a broken leg after escaping a fire at a garage at a Maryland home on Sunday night.
About 9:30pm, crews from Wallsend and Minmi were called to an address in Sandycroft Street after reports of a building fire.
Crews managed to contain the fire before it could spread to the neighbouring residential properties.
Two firefighters made their way to the rear of the property and attacked the fire from within and externally to prevent fire extension to the neighbouring home.
The fire was extinguished after a few minutes.
It's believed to have been caused by an unattended candle.
The resident was taken to hospital by paramedics.
BY ALEXANDRA REES
Conservation organisation Aussie Ark has recently conducted health checks of their Tasmanian Devils born and bred at the Barrington Tops.
Carried out by expert staff, the checks ensure the animals are in the best health ahead of their release into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.
Aussie Ark curator Kelly Davis says the process is essential.
"We want to give all the devils a really good look over," she said. "We weigh them to make sure they are within a healthy weight range.
"Going out into our sanctuary we wouldn't want them to be underweight or in any way at a disadvantage, we also check for any little injuries and things like that."
Ms Davis says the prime focus is to guarantee a successful breeding season and this year's release into the sanctuary will help boost the devil population from last year.
"We have done a release of Tasmanian devils into our 400 hectare sanctuary before last year and they've bred successfully," she said.
"The upcoming breeding season that'll start early next year, the individuals that we're releasing are going to boost the genetic diversity of that population and some of the ones we have confirmed to be born in the sanctuary last year will be old enough to breed."
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| Image credit: Aussie Ark. |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Cessnock councillors will lobby the Planning Minister to reverse an approval allowing allotments as small as 217m² at the Huntlee development.
The State Government signed off on a move to amend an approval for a new housing lot type known as Urban One, accomodating compact dwelling types between 217m² and 354m² around Huntlee's commercial centre and potential school.
Council says community engagement on the Development Control Plan raised major concerns around the decision, however, especially in regard to parking, traffic, public transport, as well as amenities such as education and healthcare.
Mayor Jay Suvaal says the developer is taking advantage of the housing crisis, and the population density isn't suitable for the region.
Council will write to the Planning Minister, as well as calling on Cessnock MP Clayton Barr to overturn the decision.
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| Image credit: Huntlee. |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Police say a man missing since mid-October could be travelling on trains across Sydney and the Hunter.
The search for David Malouf began on Saturday 5 November 2022, after the 61-year-old couldn't be located at his home in Dundas in Parramatta.
Police have since established that David is using the railway network to travel across Sydney as well as the Blue Mountains and Newcastle.
He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of slim build, with brown eyes, long white hair and a long white beard.
Police have concerns for his welfare.
Anyone with information on David’s whereabouts is urged to contact police, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
BY IAN CROUCH
Investigations are ramping up into a savage assault and robbery on a train at Lake Macquarie.
Police say at about 5.30am on Sunday November 6, a 28-year-old man was travelling on a southbound train when he was assaulted from behind by an unknown man while the train was at Cardiff Station.
He was dragged to the floor of the carriage and set upon by 3 other man before having his mobile phone stolen.
The victim was able to escape at Cockle Creek station and call police.
Police have released CCTV images of the alleged culprits
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| Police want to speak to these men in connection with an alleged assault and robbery on a train at Cardiff |
BY IAN CROUCH
Police are appealing for dashcam footage following a high speed pursuit at Port Stephens overnight.
Around 6.25pm on Thursday 17 November, 2022, Highway Patrol officers spotted a black Ford Territory speeding on Gan Gan Road at Anna Bay and gave chase when the male driver refused to stop.
It's alleged the vehicle reached speeds in excess of 120km/h in an 80km/h zone.
Police terminated the pursuit a short time later for safety reasons.
The vehicle was later found abandoned on Birrubi Beach and taken for forensic testing.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers or Raymond Terrace Police Station.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Singleton Council is calling for more funding from the State and Federal Governments, as its road repair bill blows out to $15 million.
Following a resolution on Tuesday, Council will join with Local Government NSW and the Country Mayors Association of NSW to declare a Statewide Road Emergency in the wake of floods throughout the year.
The toll on the local and regional road network is now estimated at $2.5 billion.
Singleton Mayor Sue Moore says Council's willing to put in $5 million, if the State and Federal Governments each do the same.
The town has already received $250,000 from a NSW pothole fixing fund.
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| Broke Road at Broke after the floods in July. |
BY IAN CROUCH
Police say a fire which gutted a home at Speers Point is not being treated as suspicious.
Fire crews from Cardiff, Teralba, Tingira Heights, Toronto and the Hazmat unit from Newcastle were called to the single storey vinyl clad and tile home on Bell Street just after 5.30pm on Wednesday to find the house well alight.
Newcastle Fire Command says all occupants were accounted for and it took just under two hours to fully extinguish and mop up the fire.
The cause of blaze is not yet known.
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| The house on Bell Street, Speers Point was destroyed in the blaze Picture Teralba Fire & Rescue |
BY EMILY WILLIAMS
Stockton residents are calling for Orica's ammonium nitrate storage facility on Kooragang Island to be moved, amidst growing concerns of a potential explosion.
The Stockton Community Group has made a submission to the NSW Government's review of how and where ammonium nitrate is stored.
The Government is proposing changes to licensing policies for facilities storing over 2,500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which would see a standard separation distance from populated areas and infrastructure introduced.
The Newcastle facility, built in the late 1960s, is located less than a kilometre from homes, which Stockton Community Group spokesperson, Keith Craig says is too high a risk.
"We've got black swan events and we know there can be accidents that can't be planned for, and to have that sort of volume so close to communities and in the middle of Newcastle CBD is just not acceptable," he said.
On average, Orica's plant stores between 6,000 and 12,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.
A 2020 explosion in a storage facility holding 3,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in Lebanon's capital Beirut, led to the deaths of 218 people and injured a further 7,000.
Stockton residents fear the same could happen here, but on a much larger scale, and are calling on the Government to adopt a policy similar to that of Western Australia.
It would see a maximum of 200 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored on Kooragang Island at any one time, minimising the risk of an explosion.
"Of course, even 200 tonnes, like we've seen in Toulouse (France), can create many injuries and deaths," said Mr Craig.
After the Beirut explosion, a petition calling for the relocation of Orica's ammonium nitrate plant had over 15,000 signatures.
Across the globe, there have been more than ten ammonium nitrate explosions since 2000.
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| Image credit: Orica. |
BY JORDAN REGNIS
Newcastle bar and restaurant Babylon is set to be rebranded, after a dispute with a Brisbane hospitality operator.
A trademark infringement was lodged by the Mantle Hospitality Group in Brisbane in May last year, though the Elsey family has been operating under the brand in Newcastle since 2018.
The family initially challenged the claim, arguing the two venues held significant differences, and the Newcastle venue also being open for longer, but found the legal costs were too high to risk taking the challenge further.
The business is set to transition its name to Bartholomew over the coming months.
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| Image credit: Babylon Newcastle. |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
The second inquiry into the murder and manslaughter convictions of Singleton killer Kathleen Folbigg over the deaths of her four children, has been adjourned for three months, so new scientific evidence can be reviewed.
Two genetic experts from Denmark testified at the hearing in Sydney yesterday.
They're the co-authors of a research paper published last year, discussing a rare genetic mutation which can cause sudden death in children.
Ms Folbigg's two daughters did have the mutation.
The inquiry will resume in February.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Four people have been arrested after police pursued a pair of stolen cars through Lake Macquarie suburbs early Tuesday morning.
On Monday evening, a house was broken into in Lambton and two sets of car keys stolen.
About 5:20am on Tuesday morning, Lake Macquarie police spotted one of the stolen vehicles speeding through Charlestown.
They pursued the vehicle until it was deemed too dangerous and a risk to the public’s safety.
The vehicle was found on Hillsborough Road, where its four occupants got out of the vehicle and ran.
The driver, who's not old enough to hold a license, was arrested a short distance away.
Hillsborough residents were told to stay indoors while a police dog scoured the suburbs, after reports of the occupants running through backyards.
The remaining three youths were located hiding under a house nearby.
All were arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station to be charged.
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| Image credit: Newcastle Police. |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Emergency services have freed a person after a van crashed on Buchanan Road at Buchanan on Monday morning.
Rescue crews were called to the scene just before 7:30am, finding three people were already out of the vehicle, while a person in the front passenger seat was still trapped by confinement.
Hydraulic cutters were used to remove the door and the B-pillar, to allow a spine board to be inserted and remove the passenger.
All four people were taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment.
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| Image credit: Cessnock District Rescue Squad. |
BY DAKOTA TAIT
The search for a 72-year-old man missing in Lake Macquarie continues today, with the focus now shifting to the Fernleigh Track at Belmont.
John Davidson was last seen at a home on Tennent Road at Mount Hutton, around 10:15am on Monday 7 November 2022.
He still hasn't been found, despite a multi-agency search of Mount Hutton, Charlestown, Gateshead and surrounding areas.
John is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, with medium build and grey hair.
He may be wearing jeans and white joggers.
Police are now appealing to anyone who was on the Fernleigh Track at Belmont, on Monday 7 November 2022 from 12pm onwards, and believes they may have seen John, to contact police.
Residents in the Belmont and Belmont South areas, in particular those around Gen, Ernest and Alick Street, and Railway Parade, who may have CCTV, are also urged to contact police.
Anyone with information into John’s whereabouts is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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BY DAKOTA TAIT
A second inquiry has begun in Sydney today, into the convictions of Singleton murderer Kathleen Folbigg.
She's serving a minimum 25-year sentence for the murders of her three children, and the manslaughter of the fourth.
An inquiry in 2019 found Ms Folbigg's convictions should be upheld.
The NSW Attorney General ordered a new inquiry earlier this year, however, following new evidence arguing a genetic mutation could have been responsible for the deaths.
Scientists and medical experts will testify throughout the week.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Two men have faced court on Friday over their alleged involvement in the theft of copper from a business in Rutherford overnight.
About 2.20am on Friday morning, officers were called to a business on Kyle Street after reports of trespass.
Upon arrival two men, aged 44 and 51, were located by police in a nearby car.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located and seized copper wire,both stripped and unstripped, as well as prohibited weapons, and amount of cannabis.
Both were arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.
The younger man faces charges relating to theft and trespass offences.
The older man faces charges relating to larceny, trespass, and possession of drugs and a weapon.
Both were refused bail and appeared at Maitland Local Court, where they were granted conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Wednesday 21 December 2022.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
A man's been flown to hospital after a serious motorcycle crash at Gungal early on Friday morning.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded at 3:30am, to reports of a serious motorbike accident south-east of Merriwa.
Paramedics arrived on scene and carried out initial treatment of the 31-year-old rider, who had collided with a guard rail, causing serious lower leg injuries.
The man was conveyed to Merriwa Hospital helipad and before being airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition for further treatment.
BY DAKOTA TAIT and IAN CROUCH
A woman has suffered serious burns after cleaning products she was using exploded at Greta.
The 51-year-old was cleaning a car with solvents in Nelson Street yesterday afternoon when they ignited.
She suffered serious burns to her chest, upper body and hands and was flown to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital for specialist treatment.
EARLIER:
There's been an incident on the New England Highway at Greta, heading north, on Thursday afternoon.
It's not a crash, but it's understood a woman is injured.
She's being transported to the Royal North Shore Hospital by the Westpac Helicopter.
More to come.
BY DAKOTA TAIT
Monkeypox vaccinations are now available at the Wallsend Health Campus on Longworth Avenue.
Gay and bisexual men with multiple or casual sexual partners, as well as anyone who has sex with men in that group, are eligible to receive the free vaccine.
Vaccinations are only taking place on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
There is a limited number of appointments and vaccine supply available, and eligible people who aren’t yet fully vaccinated are encouraged to make an appointment as soon as possible.
Two doses of the vaccine are required for maximum protection, given at least 28 days apart.The vaccine is most effective two weeks after the second dose and offers 80 percent protection against monkeypox.
You can check your eligibility or make a booking at https://health.nsw.gov.au/book-a-monkeypox-vaccine.
