Man Killed In Crash At Cooranbong

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has died following a single vehicle crash on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Cooranbong.

Police say around 1.20am on Wednesday emergency services were called to a single vehicle crash in the southbound lanes between Cessnock Road and Freemans Drive.

The male driver died at the scene and he is yet to be formally identified.

A crime scene has been established as investigations continue into the circumstances leading up to the crash.

Anyone with dashcam footage which could assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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. 

BREAKING! Driver Killed In Vehicle Rollover On The M1 At Freemans Waterhole

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has died in a vehicle roll over on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Freeman's Waterhole.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the northbound lanes of the freeway underneath the Palmers Road overpass just before 5.30am on Tuesday to find the vehicle had crashed off the road into the bush, and rolled down an embankment.

The male driver was found deceased. He has not been formally identified. 

As investigations continue, any witnesses or anyone with dash cam vision is urged to come forward.

The northbound lanes of the motorway are closed with diversions in place.

 

BREAKING! Truck Fire Closes Southbound Lanes of M1 at Calga

BY IAN CROUCH

The southbound lanes of the M1 Pacific Motorway are closed at Calga due to a truck fire.

A truck loaded with scrap metal caught alight at about 4.45am on Monday about 1km from the southbound side of the Mooney Mooney Bridge.

Fire crews are using foam to douse the flames and a heavy hazmat unit is on the way.

Police say the driver has not been injured.

There is heavy southbound traffic on the M1 which is being diverted onto Peats Ridge Road and rejoining the freeway at Calga.

Early Morning Traffic Troubles On The M1 At Holmesville

BY IAN CROUCH

Motorists on the M1 Pacific Motorway are being advised to proceed with caution following separate incidents on both sides of the freeway at Holmesville.

A truck has broken down in the southbound lanes near Fairley Road and affecting one of two lanes.

Motorists are being advised to slow down as the truck is on a high speed sweeping right hand bend.

Live Traffic is also reporting a crash in the northbound lanes near Slatey Creek with emergency services on scene.

Truck Fire Closes Northbound Lanes of M1 at Freemans Waterhole

BY IAN CROUCH

A salvage operation is under way after a truck loaded with supermarket groceries went up in flames on the M1 at Freemans Waterhole.

Police say the B-Double was travelling in the northbound lanes just past Freemans Drive when an axle on the trailer caught fire just before 11.00pm on Monday.

The driver managed to escape unharmed as the fire quickly took hold, destroying the trailer and its contents.

The northbound lanes of the M1 are closed with traffic diversions in place on Freemans Drive and Palmers Road.

Thousands of dollars worth of groceries were lost in the fire Picture: NBN News

Witnesses Sought To Serious M1 Crash At Mooney Mooney

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are appealing for witnesses to a serious crash on the M1 at Mooney Mooney.

A southbound Volkswagon Golf spun out of control and hit a rock wall just after 9.30am on Monday.

The 18-year-old male driver managed to free himself but his 18-year-old female passenger was trapped and suffered serious leg and abdominal injuries.

The driver holds a suspended provisional licence and has been charged with 4 offences including dangerous driving.

He's been refused bail to face Gosford Court today (Tuesday 5 May 2020).

Police are urging witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage of the crash to contact Crime Stoppers.

Motorists Getting Back Up To Speed On The M1 Pacific Motorway

BY IAN CROUCH

Long-suffering motorists will soon have a faster trip between Newcastle and Sydney.

After almost 2 years of construction roadworks, the southbound lanes of the M1 Pacific Motorway between the Kariong and Somersby interchanges are expected to return to a speed limit of 110 km/h from this Friday March 27.

All three new southbound lanes will be open and motorists are being advised to drive to the conditions and follow new line marking and signage.

However, the RMS is advising some sections of the M1 are still under construction and will remain at 80 km/h.

The work is one of 3 major upgrade projects on the M1 which also includes upgrading the motorway between the Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges and the upgrade of the Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive intersection, costing $391.6 million.

The Kariong to Somerby upgrade involves widening the motorway to 3 lanes in each direction and lengthening and widening three of the four ramps at the Kariong Interchange.

It's expected the northbound lanes of the Kariong to Somersby upgrade will go to the 110km/h speed limit by mid year.

The M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrade In Progress Picture: RMS

BREAKING! Major Truck Fire On M1 Motorway Closes 2 of 3 Northbound Lanes at Bar Point

BY IAN CROUCH

There are major delays for northbound traffic on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Bar Point on the Central Coast due to a truck fire.

A semi-trailer carrying 5000 litres of milk, yogurt and orange juice on pallets caught alight near Jolls Bridge just after 2.30am on Wednesday.

2 of 3 northbound lanes of the freeway are closed.

The fire has caused extensive damage to the trailer.

The driver wasn't injured.

Ten firefighters and a senior officer are at the scene working to contain the runoff and a major salvage operation is due to commence at 6.00am. 

BREAKING! Firey Crash Involving Four Trucks On M1 At Halloran

BY IAN CROUCH

A fiery crash involving four trucks is causing major delays on the  M1 Pacific Motorway at Halloran on the Central Coast.

Newcastle Fire Command says a B-Double carrying Woolworths goods was travelling through the roadworks zone heading north just past the Sparks Road overpass at about 2.10am on Wednesday when it crashed into three work trucks that were stopped at the location.

The B-double caught alight with the fire quickly spreading to the other heavy vehicles involved in the crash.

Thankfully no-one has been injured.

The crash closed both sides of the M1 but the southbound lanes re-opened to traffic just after 4am, although there is a traffic queue of 5 kilometres.

Northbound lanes remain closed with diversions in place as firefighting operations continue.

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.

Motorcyclist Killed in Lake Macquarie Crash

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

The M1 Pacific Motorway is closed to southbound traffic at Killingworth as investigators piece together the circumstances of a fatal car and motorbike crash overnight.

A male motorcyclist died at the scene after coming off his bike at around 1 o'clock Wednesday morning.

Officers have been told two motorbikes were travelling south at speed when one rider was thrown from his bike and hit by a car travelling in the same direction.

The rider of the second motorcycle did not stop.

The woman driving the car was taken to the John Hunter Hospital for mandatory tests and investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may have dash-cam footage of the two motorbikes prior to the crash, to come forward.

Diversions are in place for those travelling south.

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.