UPDATE! Missing 12-Year-Old Cessnock Girl Found Safe and Well

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Missing person Kira Jurd has been located safe and well.

EARLIER:

Hunter Valley Police are seeking assistance to locate a missing girl from Cessnock 

12-year-old Kira Jurd was last sighted on Cessnock Road at Abermain on Monday the 27th of February.

She's believed to be in the Charlestown, Belmont, Gateshead or Swansea areas.

Kira is described as being of Caucasian in appearance, with a fair complexion, approximately 160-165cm tall, of thin build, with blonde/pink hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen wearing a Cessnock High School uniform, black shorts, black shirt, and a backpack.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cessnock Police Station or Crime Stoppers.

12-year-old Kira Jurd has been missing since Monday. 

Man Charged Over Eleebana Crash Which Left Two Children in Hospital

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man will face court in April charged over a serious crash in Lake Macquarie. 

Around 9.15pm on October 19 2020, emergency services were called to Bareki Road, Eleebana.

There were reports a Honda Civic travelling north and a Ford Mondeo travelling south collided at the intersection of Eleebana Road.

Two children in the Ford – aged five and six-weeks-old – suffered serious head injuries and were taken to John Hunter Hospital. They have since been released from hospital.

The male driver of the Ford, aged 36, and his female passenger, aged 31, were uninjured during the crash.

The driver of the Honda – a 46-year-old man from Abermain – was trapped for a short time before being taken to John Hunter Hospital with serious internal injuries.

Following extensive inquiries, police attended a home on Cessnock Road, Abermain, and spoke with the 46-year-old man.

He was issued with a future court attendance notice for the following offences:

• Dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous
• Cause bodily harm by misconduct in charge of motor vehicle (x2)
• Negligent driving (occasioning grievous bodily harm)
• Negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm)
• Drive vehicle illicit drug present in blood
• Not keep left of dividing line-not class B/C vehicle

He is due to appear at Belmont Local Court on April 21. 

UPDATE! Abermain Sporting Complex Severely Damaged By Fire

BY IAN CROUCH.

Cessnock police are appealing for witnesses after a deliberately lit fire destroyed a sporting complex at Abermain.

Wheelie bins were placed underneath the eves of the amenities building at Howe Park in William Street sometime after 6 last night.

The fire quickly spread to the roof and engulfed the building.

Chief Inspector Dave Robinson says the building was used by the local football and cricket clubs.

"It contained their sporting equipment; had the stock in their canteen - all this gear belongs to not-for-profit sporting groups. It's all been lost. So, police are really seeking the assistance of anyone who can give us any information of people who are involved in deliberately lighting this fire, because it's really impacted on our local sporting clubs," he said.


EARLIER:

Fire has severely damaged a sporting complex at Abermain overnight.

Up to 30 firefighters and 8 fire trucks were called to the William Street complex in Howe Park just after 7.00pm on Monday to find the building and an adjoining amenities block well alight.

Crews had to contend with water supply issues, having to relay water by pumping it from truck to truck to get to the blaze.

They managed to get the fire under control by 9 o'clock.

The fire is being treated as suspicious.