Copper Thieves Allegedly Found Over Telecommunications Loss at Cooranbong and Morisset

BY PETER HYSLOP

Police believe they've found the copper thieves allegedly responsible for bringing down telecommunications in Morisset and Cooranbong this month.

Late yesterday, Lake Macquarie Police attempted to stop a Ford sedan and a pursuit was initiated.

At Wyee two people ran from the vehicle when it crashed, a 26-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman. 

Both were arrested and a search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of copper wiring, which police believe are the proceeds from a recent break and enter at a telecommunications facility at Dora Creek.

The alleged driver, a 26-year-old man, was charged with three outstanding warrants linked to more than 30 offences dating back to 2021. The woman was charged with drug related offences.

Following inquiries, police arrested a 39-year-old man at Crangan Bay in a separate car chase, he's been charged with theft of the cables.

All three will appear at Belmont Local Court in coming days.

Telecommunications tower. Picture: Wikimedia commons

Teen Driver Charged Over Fatal Crash At Cooranbong

 BY IAN CROUCH

An unlicensed driver is due to face the children's court today (Monday 13 May, 2024) charged over a fatal cash at Cooranbong last month.

Emergency services were called to Freemans Drive at about 12.15am on Sunday April 14, after a northbound car hit a parked SUV, understood to be a marked mobile speed camera vehicle.

An 18-year-old front seat passenger died at the scene.

The 17-year-old driver was freed from the wreckage and taken to the John Hunter Hospital, while the 43-year-old SUV driver suffered minor injuries.

The driver, now 18, was arrested at Newcastle Police Station on Saturday and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death.

He's been granted conditional bail to face Broadmeadow Children's Court today.

 

Teen Dies After Car Crashes Into Speed Camera Vehicle At Cooranbong

 BY IAN  CROUCH

A report is being prepared for the Coroner after a passenger died in a two car crash at Cooranbong.

Police say a Subaru Impreza lost control on Freemans Drive at about 12.15am on Sunday and slammed into a fully marked mobile speed camera vehicle parked by the side of the road.

The 18-year-old male passenger died at the scene, while an 18-year-old man who was behind the wheel was freed and taken to the John Hunter Hospital for treatment and mandatory testing.

A 43-year-old man who was sitting in the mobile speed camera vehicle suffered minor injuries and didn't require treatment.  

 

Police Appeal For Information After Crime Spree In Cooranbong

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are appealing for CCTV footage as they investigate several thefts in the Cooranbong area this week.

Valuable items including electronics, power tools and personal items were stolen from parked vehicles, with a black Honda CT motorcycle also reported stolen.

Police say the thefts occurred between 9.00pm on Monday and 6.00am on Tuesday in Highland Avenue, Carrera Crescent, Red Robin Lane and Ellenborough Drive.

It's prompted police to again urge residents to lock vehicles and remove valuables.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Potato truck catches fire at Cooranbong

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Motorists heading south along the M1 at Cooranbong faced delays on Tuesday afternoon, after a truck carrying potatoes caught on fire.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene at the Freemans Drive overpass around 3pm.

Both southbound lanes had to be closed while the fire was extinguished, with one remaining closed until 9pm that evening.

House Destroyed In Early-Morning Fire At Cooranbong

 BY IAN CROUCH

The owner of a popular horse riding business at Cooranbong is counting the cost of a devastating fire.

The Rural Fire Service says 8 RFS crews and 2 Fire and Rescue crews were called to a property on Mount Nellinda Road just before 6.00am on Friday to find a single story house well alight.

The property is also is also home to AAA Horse Riding and More. 

The sole male occupant and owner of the business was woken by smoke alarms and managed to escape without injury.

Firefighters were hampered by limited water supply, with the RFS sending several bulk water tankers and then relaying water to crews at the house.

RFS Central Coast Manager, Vicky Campbell says it took around 2 hours to contain the fire and the blaze was extinguished by 9.00. 

"One male occupant self evacuated and was uninjured, thanks to working smoke alarms, however the house is a total loss," she said.

Owner of the business, Wayne said the house was the only infrastructure damaged and none of the animals or other buildings on site were harmed or damaged.

"We'll have to close for a couple of weeks while we assess the damage," he said.

Police say the fire, which is believed to have started in the kitchen area, is not being treated as suspicious.

The house was well alight when crews arrived Picture Morisset Fire & Rescue

 

Crews continued battling the flames well into the morning Picture Martinsville RFS

Man Critically Injured When Car Plunges Off M1 Overpass Bridge At Cooranbong

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is lucky to be alive after his car plunged off an overpass on the M1 at Cooranbong and crashed onto to the road below.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash at about 4.00pm on Tuesday, arriving to find the car had fallen several metres onto Newport Road.

The driver, believed to be a man in his 30's, was airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital by the region's Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a critical condition with multiple fractures and head and chest injuries.

The crash scene at Cooranbong Picture: NSW Ambulance

Semi-Trailer Goes Up In Flames On M1 At Cooranbong

 BY IAN CROUCH

Southbound traffic on the M1 at Cooranbong is back to normal after a truck fire overnight.

An empty semi-trailer caught alight just after 9.30pm on Tuesday, about 2.5km south of the Freemans Drive overpass.

The truck driver managed to escape without injury.

Fire and Rescue and RFS crews took just under an hour to extinguish the fire, which gutted the cabin and the trailer.

A Hazmat crew from Newcastle was brought in to decant diesel from a ruptured fuel tank.

The salvage operation wrapped up just after 4.30am on Wednesday.

Police say it's likely the fire started in the engine bay. 

The cabin and trailer of the truck were destroyed in the fire Picture Toronto Fire & Rescue

Crews Called To House Fire At Cooranbong

 BY IAN CROUCH

An unattended fire pit is being blamed for a house fire at Cooranbong early Tuesday.

Emergency services were called to a home on Ellenborough Drive just after 4.00am to find a fire in a fire pit on a rear balcony had spread to the rear wall and ceiling of an outdoor area.

There were initial concerns for an elderly lady inside the home, but Newcastle Fire Command says all occupants have been accounted for and no-one was injured.

The fire was quickly extinguished and crews remained on scene for about an hour to ventilate the property.

UPDATE! Woman Killed By Falling Tree Branch at Cooranbong

 BY IAN CROUCH

A bushwalker has died after being struck by a falling tree branch at Cooranbong.

Police say a 37-year-old woman from Sydney was walking through the Watagans National Park with two family members late on Sunday when she was struck by the falling branch.

Emergency services were called, but despite the efforts of relatives and first responders, the woman was not able to be revived and died at the scene.

Police say at the time of the incident, weather conditions were poor, with the area having been drenched by heavy rain throughout the day.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

Lake Macquarie Police Investigate 2nd Fatal Crash In 24 Hours

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are appealing for dashcam footage as they investigate a fatal crash at Cooranbong.

A man believed to be in his 40's died at the scene when his car left Freemans Drive just before 7.00am on Tuesday and crashed down an embankment.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to call Crime Stoppers.

It's the second fatality on Lake Macquarie roads in less than 24 hours.

19-year-old Luke Wasiak lost his life when his trail bike clipped a ute and slammed into a power pole at Cardiff on Monday afternoon.

Police Appeal For Witnesses After Serious 4 Car Crash On M1

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are appealing for dashcam footage as investigations continue into a multi-vehicle crash on the M1 at Cooranbong.

The four vehicle crash closed the northbound lanes of the motorway for several hours.

A 72-year-old man was placed in an induced coma and flown to the John Hunter Hospital with head and chest injuries - he remains in a critical condition.

Police say a 57-year-old man driving a white Mitsubishi 4WD was outside the vehicle at the time of the crash.

He sustained minor injuries and was taken to the John Hunter for treatment.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has dashcam footage is urged to call the Crash Investigation Unit on 4929 0744 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

 

Man Charged Allegedly Sexually Touching Two Women at Lake Macquarie Service Station Without Consent

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man will face court after allegedly sexually touching two women without their consent while they were working at a service station near Lake Macquarie.

On October 24 and 25, two 22-year-old women were working at a service station in Cooranbong, when they were allegedly sexually touched by a man who is known to them.

The incident was reported to officers from Lake Macquarie Police District on October 26. 

Following inquiries, police arrested a 62-year-old man at Cooranbong about 9am on Thursday. 

He was taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with five counts of sexually touching another person without consent.

The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Toronto Local Court on December 15. 

Man Faces Court After Prohibited Weapons Found At Two Lake Macquarie Homes

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has faced court on weapons and drugs charges following raids on two Lake Macquarie homes.

Around 7.00am on Thursday, officers went to a home on Newport Road at Cooranbong and spoke with a 55-year-old man.

A search of the property allegedly uncovered a pistol, ammunition and methylamphetamine. Police also seized a vehicle, a motorbike, NSW police insignia, knuckle dusters, a baton and home made weapons.

Officers also went to a home on Bushells Ridge Road at Wyee where it's alleged further prohibited weapons, ammunition, drug paraphernalia and vehicles believed to be stolen, were found.

The man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with nine offences, including possess prohibited weapon, supply prohibited drug, unauthorised handle explosives, possess ammunition without permit and breaching a weapons prohibition order.

He faced Toronto Local Court where he was refused bail to re-appear next Tuesday February 4.

Police expect to lay further charges.

Some of the weapons recovered during raids on home at Cooranbong and Wyee

 

 

UPDATE: Missing Woman Located Safe and Well

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A woman reported missing in the Lake Macquarie area has been found safe and well.

Following police inquiries, Skye Conway was located at Cooranbong around 9:30 on Friday morning.

The 37-year-old was reported missing on Thursday after leaving a Cooranbong home on Wednesday night.


EARLIER:

Police are seeking the public's help to find a woman missing from Lake Macquarie.

37-year-old Skye Conway left a home at Cooranbong around 11:30 on Wednesday night and hasn't been seen since.

Her family hold concerns for her welfare due to medical reasons.

Skye is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, with a thin build, blonde hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black singlet, grey track pants and polka dot socks.

Skye is also known to have connections in Sydney's south, in the Cronulla area.

Anyone who has seen Skye or knows of her whereabouts is urged to contact police.

Breaking! Truck Rollover And Fire Closes Northbound Lanes Of M1 At Cooranbong

BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services have been called to a truck fire on the M1 at Cooranbong.

A refrigerated truck overturned in the northbound lanes under the Freemans Drive Overpass just after 4.30.

The truck then burst into flames which has also started a bushfire next to the motorway.

Police say the driver has managed to escape with only minor injuries.

The northbound lanes of the M1 are blocked with diversions in place at Freemans Drive and Palmers Road.

More than a dozen Fire & Rescue firefighters are at the scene along with the Rural Fire Service.

The northbound lanes of the motorway are expected to be closed for several hours.

Hunter Lashed By Wild Electrical Storm

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter has escaped relatively unscathed from last night's fierce electrical storm which swept through the region.

Three people were trapped in two cars when power lines came down on their vehicles on Station Street next to Waratah Train Station at about 6.00pm.

They were freed when Railcorp isolated the power about an later.

Around 1200 homes were blacked out at Marks Point and Belmont, while Cooranbong copped the heaviest downpour, with almost 42 millimetres recorded.

The SES responded to 30 calls for assistance across the region, mainly for leaking rooves.

The weather bureau says there's a chance of another thunderstorm later this afternoon.

Fierce Electrical Storm Lashed Newcastle and The Hunter Picture: newcastlelive.com.au