UPDATE! Multi-Vehicle Crash Closes Hunter Expressway At Seahampton

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police say the driver of a car travelling on the wrong side of the Hunter Expressway at Seahamptonon Monday night before colliding with an oncoming vehicle, was under the influence of alcohol.

It's alleged the southbound station wagon collided with a northbound SUV at about 9.00pm.

The driver of the station wagon, a 71-year-old man from Fern Bay, allegedly returned a positive breath test before being taken to the John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing and treatment for hand and chest injuries.

The driver of the SUV, a 61-year-old woman from West Wallsend, was taken to the John Hunter with chest and back injuries.

The northbound lanes of the expressway were closed for about an hour.

Police are awaiting the outcome of the test results. 

EARLIER:
 

Two people have been taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash on the Hunter Expressway at Seahampton.

Emergency services were called to the westbound lanes of the expressway at about 9.15pm on Monday to find three cars had collided and one was on its roof.

A man in his 70's and a woman in her 60's were taken to hospital with chest and pelvic injuries.

The westbound lanes of the expressway were closed for some time while the crash scene was cleared.

There are reports one of the vehicles was travelling on the wrong side of the expressway when the crash occurred.   

BREAKING! Crews Called To Vehicle Fires On The Hunter Expressway

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews are batting separate vehicle fires on the Hunter Expressway.

Crews were called to the motorway near Sawyers Gully at 3.10am on Monday where a semi-trailer carrying grain caught fire in the northbound lanes.

The driver managed to escape unharmed.

A Fire & Rescue crew from Branxton along with the Hazmat unit and the RFS are battling the flames.

Meanwhile a utility has gone up in flames on the expressway at Buchannan.

A Fire & Rescue crew from Kurri Kurri and the RFS were called to the blaze at 3.45am in the northbound lanes.

An area of bush is also alight.

One lane is closed and there are traffic delays in the area.

Truck Crash Causing Delays on Hunter Expressway

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Motorists are now able to travel on the Hunter Expressway at Buchanan following a truck crash near John Renshaw Drive.

A contra flow is in place, with motorists using the eastbound carriageway to travel past the crash in both directions.

The diversion via the M1 Pacific Motorway and John Renshaw Drive has been lifted.

A southbound semi-trailer truck left the expressway and crashed just after 7 o'clock, spilling its load across the motorway.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the truck had lost its trailer and rolled down an embankment, injuring the driver and spilling the contents of the truck across the road.

It's understood the 55-year-old male truck driver suffered severe chest and head injuries and was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition. 

The crash detached the diesel tank, which resulted fuel leaking in a nearby water catchment.

Hazardous materials crews from Rutherford and Newcastle Fire Stations arrived on scene to contain the diesel spill and are currently working with the NSW Police, NSW SES and the NSW Rural Fire Service to render to area safe.

The clean-up operation is continuing and there's a reduced speed limit, so motorists should slow down, exercise caution and follow the direction of emergency services and traffic crews on site.

Motorists should also allow extra travel time as traffic in the area is heavy.

Debris from the truck crash on the Hunter Expressway, Photos: Fire and Rescue NSW

Debris from the truck crash is strewn across the Hunter Expressway Photos: Cessnock VRA

Serious Crash On Hunter Expressway At Stockrington

BY IAN CROUCH

One person has been taken to hospital after a two car crash at Stockrington near Seahampton.

Emergency services were called to the Hunter Expressway near Surveyors Creek at about 8.30pm on Thursday to find two cars had crashed in the eastbound lanes.

Police say a 79-year-old man was taken to the John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition with chest and leg injuries - he's currently undergoing surgery.

NSW Ambulance says two other people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

A 30-year-old man was also taken to the John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing.

The crash closed the eastbound lanes of the expressway for several hours.

A motorist who passed the crash site later described the scene on Facebook as heart wrenching.


A crime scene has been established and the circumstances surrounding the incident will be investigated by officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.

Traffic delays are expected with both eastbound lanes on the Hunter Expressway closed and traffic being diverted onto John Renshaw Drive. Westbound traffic is being diverted into the breakdown lane.

Police are urging anyone with information about the crash, or who may have dashcam footage, to contact Crime Stoppers.
 

Emergency Services Called To Crash At Muswellbrook and Tanker Jackknifed On Hunter Expressway

BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services have been called to a serious crash at Muswellbrook.

Two cars collided on Thomas Mitchell Drive just south of the Mount Arthur turnoff at about 5.00am on Thursday.

It's understood one the cars is on it's side and Thomas Mitchell Drive is blocked in both directions.

NSW Ambulance says no-one has been seriously injured.

Meanwhile, a petrol tanker has jackknifed and collided with the rear of a car on the Hunter Expressway near Heddon Greta.

The crash is affecting northbound lanes and motorists are being advised to proceed with caution.

It's understood the petrol tanker is empty but around 30 litres of hydraulic oil has spilled onto the road.

Crews Called To Truck Fire On Hunter Expressway at Seahampton

BY IAN CROUCH

Quick work by a passing motorist has prevented a grocery truck fire from spreading to its load at Seahampton.

The rear axle of the semi-trailer caught alight in the westbound lanes of the Hunter Expressway near Seahampton Road at about 4.15am on Friday.

The motorist used a dry chemical extinguisher to quell the flames while fire crews from Holmesville and the RFS arrived to finish dousing the flames and cool the brake system.

One lane of the expressway was closed for a short time but has since been re-opened.

Passers-by Stamp Out Deliberately Lit Grass Fire At Buchannan

BY IAN CROUCH

Four passers-by have helped extinguish a deliberately lit grass fire at Buchannan.

Newcastle Fire Command says the four noticed the fire break out near the Hunter Expressway just before 7.30pm on Monday and called triple-oh.

They managed to stamp out most of the flames before police and firefighters arrived.

They also gave police a description of a man wearing a black hooded jumper who they say started the blaze - he was last seen heading up the on-ramp at George Booth Drive.

Police say no-one has been arrested at this stage.

Road to improvement for Frame Drive, Abermain

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

It has today been confirmed that Cessnock City Council will receive $4.45 million in funding as part of the state government's 'Fixing Country Roads' program. 

Cessnock councillors today attended state parliament to talk with Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, where the Minister confirmed the $4.45 million figure. 

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, has welcomed the news, saying the funding will be used to upgrade Frame Drive at Abermain into an 11-metre carriageway stretching from the intersection of Gingers Lane to Orange Street. 

The work, part of a larger plan eventually connecting Cessnock directly to the Hunter Expressway,

will complement the new concrete bridge which replaced the former single-lane timber construction on Frame Drive. 

It is understood that Cessnock Council has been lobbying for the improvements for two years. 

"You can probably say [residents have been waiting for these improvements] since the Hunter Expressway was completed a few years ago," Scot MacDonald says, "people have been using the Expressway to get to and from work and school, it's been very busy...

"I've first had representation from Cessnock City Council about two years ago, but they have put together a good plan and a good design; they've been working with RMS...So I'm very pleased they've been able to find the money under 'Fixing Country Roads.'" 

So far, the state government has awarded $90 million worth of funding towards 138 road projects across regional NSW under the scheme. 

Scot MacDonald believes the upgrade to Frame Drive will begin almost immediately. 

Parliamentary Secretary, Scot MacDonald.