BREAKING! Brunker Road Adamstown Closed: Tree Down

 BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services were called to Brunker Road at Adamstown where a tree fell across power lines.

Newcastle Fire Command said the tree has come down outside number 416 Brunker Road between Burn and South Streets.

A crane had to brought in to remove the tree.

A gas leak also complicated the operation, with residents in the vicinity warned to close their windows and avoid open flames.

The gas leak has since been repaired. 

Police closed the road in both directions with Ausgrid emergency crews working to restore power to around 70 homes. 

Ausgrid expect the power to be restored by 1.00pm on Wednesday afternoon. 

Report Finds Bus Driver "Lost Consciousness" Before Fatal Crash At Adamstown

BY IAN  CROUCH

An investigation into a bus crash which claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman at Adamstown last year has found the driver suffered a Transient Loss of Consciousness in the moments before the tragedy.

Raani Bennett and her dog were waiting at the pedestrian crossing on Brunker Road on the afternoon of Tuesday November 5 2019 when they were struck by the bus carrying school children.

Despite the frantic efforts of nearby workers, Ms Bennett was unable to be revived and died at the scene along with her dog.

A report by the Office of Transport Safety Investigations found a review of the bus's CCTV footage shows the 61-year-old male driver appeared incapacitated and had lost control of the bus.

He told investigators he "felt dizzy and was looking for a place to pull over when everything went black".

The report found he lost consciousness for 16 seconds.

It also found the driver was aware of feeling unwell before the incident but did not anticipate becoming incapacitated.

The report has recommended a review of the health assessment standards for commercial passenger vehicle drivers and that bus operators should review their polices to ensure drivers are aware they should stop their bus when they recognise they are affected by ill-health.

The crash scene at Adamstown in November 2019 Picture: Ian Crouch

BREAKING! Driver Seriously Injured In Adamstown Heights Crash

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has suffered serious injures in a crash at Adamstown Heights early today.

Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash on Brunker Road at 12.47am on Monday, arriving to find the man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, with a serious leg injury.

He was taken to the John Hunter Hospital.

The police crash investigation unit is looking into the circumstances leading up to the crash.

The Police Rescue Squad is still at the scene providing lighting for crash investigators and there are traffic diversions in place.

UPDATE! Pedestrian Hit And Killed By School Bus In Horrific Crash At Adamstown

BY IAN CROUCH

A woman has been killed in a horror crash at Adamstown.

Police say the woman, believed to be 35-years-old, was crossing Brunker Road at a pedestrian crossing near Mandalong Road at about 3.30pm on Tuesday when she was struck by a southbound Newcastle Buses school bus.

The woman was walking her dog at the time which was also found dead at the scene.

The bus then collided with 5 cars which were parked on Brunker Road before coming to a stop almost 100 metres up the road.


Several bystanders rendered first aid before paramedics arrived but the woman was unable to be revived and she died at the scene.

The bus was carrying 16 students from Merewether High School.

None of the school students on the bus were injured and the driver has been taken to the John Hunter Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

No-one else was injured in the crash.

Brunker Road was closed to traffic north of Olney Road and police taped off the area as a crime scene as investigations continue. Brunker Road has since been re-opened to traffic

Inspector Shane Buggy from Newcastle Police would not speculate on how the crash occurred.

"It's unclear at this stage and investigations are ongoing," he said.

Kurt Batchelor works at the nearby Steve Toms Automotive Services and says it was a horrific scene.

"I heard a loud bang out the front of work and walked outside and saw the bus on the other side of the road driving pretty fast and walked over to attend and saw the lady on the ground with a couple of people attending (to her)", he said.

Crash investigators want to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision ansd have not yet spoken to police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The Pedestrian Crossing Where The Crash Occurred At Adamstown Picture: Ian Crouch

The Horrific Crash Scene At Adamstown Picture: Ian Crouch