Man Survives Spectacular Roll-Over Crash At Killingworth

 BY IAN CROUCH

A young man has luckily escaped serious injury after a spectacular crash at Killingworth early Friday morning.

NSW Ambulance says the 27 year-old was driving a ute in excess of 100km/h  in the northbound lanes of the M1 north of Archery Road at about 4.15am when he lost control and the vehicle rolled up to 4 times.

The man, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car and was found lying on the road next to the guard rail.

Miraculously, he was conscious and breathing and had suffered only minor injuries.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.

The ute caught fire following the crash but this was quickly extinguished by first responding police officers using an extinguisher. 

Police Investigate Suspicious House Fire At Aberdare

 BY IAN CROUCH

A fire which destroyed an abandoned house overnight at Aberdare is being treated as suspicious.

Firefighters from Cessnock and Kearsley were called to the single level fibro and iron roof home in Aberdare Road just after 8.00pm on Wednesday to find the house fully involved in fire.

It's taken them an hour to douse the flames.

Police have set up a crime scene.

Meanwhile a car has been destroyed and a timber home has been extensively damaged by fire at Killingworth.

Crews were called to The Broadway just after 1.30pm on Wednesday afternoon, taking an hour-and-a-half to extinguish the fire - no-one was injured. 

 

Lake Macquarie Woman Charged With Defrauding Bushfire Support Fund

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

A Lake Macquarie woman will face court next month after being charged with defrauding a bushfire support scheme. 

Police attended a home in Killingworth about 8.30am on Wednesday where they arrested a 28-year-old woman.

Police allege she fraudulently obtained a $10,000 grant through a bushfire small business support scheme.

She was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with one count of dishonestly obtain financial benefit by deception, and granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on December 1. 

Strike Force Roche was established by several police districts within the Northern Region to investigate alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies.

To date, Lake Macquarie detectives have charged five people under Strike Force Roche, including a 37-year-old man from Belmont South, who allegedly defrauded a support program of  $110,000 to buy milling machinery. 

BREAKING! Driver Killed in Killingworth Crash

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police are investigating the circumstances of a fatal crash at Killingworth on Wednesday night.

Shortly before midnight a vehicle left the M1 Pacific Motorway near O'Donnelltown Road and crashed into bushland, catching fire in the process.

The driver, who is yet to be identified, died at the scene.

Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

At 4 o'clock Thursday morning, one of two northbound lanes of the M1 remained closed.

Appeal for Information over Cockle Creek Death

BY IAN CROUCH AND MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police are appealing for the public's help to establish Danielle Easey's movements in recent weeks as investigations continue into her death.

Homicide Squad detectives and Lake Macquarie Police have established Strike Force Furzer to determine the circumstances of the 29-year-old's death after her body was discovered tightly wrapped in plastic floating in Cockle Creek at Killingworth.

Danielle Easey was born on the grass outside the former Western Suburbs Maternity Hospital as the Newcastle Earthquake shook the city in 1989, and had two young children of her own.

Police say it's unknown when Danielle's body was dumped in the creek but it had been several weeks since her family had heard from her.

Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said Danielle lived at Booragul but had since been staying at multiple locations, and investigations revealed she had been associating with people involved in drug-related activity.

"We know that Danielle was staying at different locations over the last three weeks and we are keen to establish where those locations were and speak to who she stayed with during that time,” said Detective Chief Inspector Taylor.

“Of particular interest to us is any sightings or contact with Danielle since early to mid-August, and we are appealing for those people to contact us as soon as possible."

Police say they are also keen to hear from motorists who may have dash-cam footage filmed in the Wakefield Road area over the past three weeks.

Anyone with information which may assist investigations into Danielle Easey's death is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. 

EARLIER:

Police have formally identified the woman found dead at Killingworth as Booragul woman Danielle Easey.

The 29-year-old lived in the suburb with her family but had recently been staying at multiple locations around the area.

Danielle was one of a number of babies born on the grass at the former Western Suburbs Maternity Hospital during the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake.

Her body was discovered wrapped in plastic floating in Cockle Creek on Saturday.

Police will front the media this afternoon to appeal for public assistance as investigations continue into Ms Easey's death.

EARLIER:

Police are expected to announce today they've formally identified the body of a woman found wrapped in plastic in Cockle Creek at Killingworth.

A passing driver made the grim discovery on Saturday - the remains are believed to be those of a 29-year-old Hunter woman.

Homicide detectives will await the results of an autopsy to be carried out today to determine how and when the woman died.

It's still not known how long her body had been in the creek.

Police set up a crime scene on Wakefield Road Picture smh.com.au

UPDATE! Fire Under Control, M1 Reopened at Killingworth

BY IAN CROUCH AND MADELAINE MCNEILL

A bushfire burning at Killingworth has been brought under control by firefighters and all lanes of the M1 Pacific Highway have been reopened with reduced speed limits in place.

At least 75 firefighters worked to contain the blaze after it broke out shortly before 3am Thursday morning.

Dry and windy conditions eventually pushed the fire across the M1, prompting Transport for NSW to close the freeway entirely.

The fire was upgraded to Watch and Act alert level on Thursday morning amid fears it would spread towards the township of Killingworth but by 1pm had been downgraded back to Advice.

The blaze burned through more than 40 hectares.

Firefighters remained on scene on Thursday afternoon to monitor the situation and mop up the blaze.


EARLIER:

North and Southbound lanes of the M1 are still affected as work continues to control a bushfire at Killingworth.

The RFS says crews have the upper hand and work has now started on a backburn on the western side of the motorway with 1 northbound lane still closed.

The fire is listed at advice level after burning through 6 hectares.

EARLIER:

Firefighters are battling a large bushfire which is burning on both sides of the M1Pacific Motorway at Killingworth.

Newcastle Fire Command says they received the first call to the blaze at 2.30am on Thursday.

At least 4 RFS Tankers and 5 Fire & Rescue trucks have been called to the fire, with 2 water tankers deployed to Killingworth for property protection, however no homes are under threat at this stage.

The fire is being fanned by northeasterly winds.

1 of 2 southbound lanes and 1 of 2 northbound lanes of the motorway are closed and Live Traffic is reporting heavy traffic conditions .

Motorists are advised to delay all non-essential travel through the area.