Woman Driver Blows Four Times Legal Limit, Following King Street Crash

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A woman will face court later in August, recording a blood alcohol reading of four times the legal limit, following a collision on King Street, Newcastle. 

Around 10.20pm on Sunday night, two vehicles collided near the intersection of King street and Union Street. 

Both drivers were submitted to a breath analysis, with a 28-year-old woman recording a reading of 0.232, more than four times the legal limit. 

Her licence was immediately suspended. 

She is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court later in August.

Former CBD Hotel In Newcastle Gutted In Overnight Fire

BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters are still at the scene of a devastating fire which has gutted the former CBD Hotel in Newcastle overnight.

Newcastle Fire Command says received 30 calls to the former pub which straddles the block between Hunter and King Streets just after 5.30pm on Sunday.

Initial reports suggest there was a loud explosion moments before the fire took hold.

Around 100 residents from a nearby apartment building were evacuated - some say squatters had been living in the hotel which was sold to a developer last year.

26 fire trucks and crews have been rotated through the night, with the fire brought under control around 1am.

1 truck remains at the scene mopping up hot spots and

King Streets has been reopened but Hunter Street remain closed between Auckland and Union Streets as does the Light Rail line amid fears a wall could collapse into the street.

Firefighters battle the  CBD Hotel Fire last night Picture: theherald.com.au

Charges laid over serious assault in Newcastle West

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A man has been charged over a serious assault at Newcastle West last Thursday.

A 21-year-old man is accused of punching another young man several times in the head around 3am on King Street.

He was arrested around 3:30 yesterday afternoon at his home in Adamstown.

It's believed an argument broke out in the King Street McDonald's carpark before the assault occurred.

The victim was left with critical head injuries and was rushed to the John Hunter Hospital.

He's since been stabilised but has been left with serious injuries including hearing loss.