UPDATE: Man Charged Over Fatal New Lambton Heights Crash

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A 25-year-old man has been charged with negligent driving offences following Tuesday's tragic crash at New Lambton Heights.

Shortly before 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, emergency services were called to the corner of Lookout Road and McCaffrey Drive where a Holden Statesman had hit a power pole.

A 9-year-old girl travelling in the car was treated at the scene and rushed to the John Hunter Hospital but could not be saved.

The driver of the car has now been charged with multiple dangerous and negligent driving offences including negligent driving occasioning death.

The man's license has also been suspended.

A 29-year-old woman who was a passenger in the vehicle remains in hospital in a serious condition.

EARLIER:

Police have confirmed a nine year old girl has died following a crash at New Lambton Heights.

Police say a Holden statesman lost control and collided with a power pole shortly before 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.

The young girl was treated at the scene by an off-duty nurse and rushed to the John Hunter Children's Hospital, where she died a short time later.

A woman was freed from the vehicle and taken to hospital, Police could not confirm her condition.

The male driver of the car has been taken for mandatory testing and an investigation into the incident has been launched.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have dashcam footage to come forward.

EARLIER:

Two people, including a child, have been rushed to hospital following a collision at New Lambton Heights.

Just before 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, NSW Ambulance crews responded to reports of a car hitting a power pole at the intersection of Lookout Road and McCaffrey Drive.

A woman in her late 20s and a child, thought to be around 8 years old, have been taken to the John Hunter Hospital.

The young girl is reportedly in a critical condition.

The woman is in a serious but stable condition.

Mccaffrey Drive is closed and there is heavy traffic, police are on scene.

Emergency Services Ready for Thousands at Newcastle 500

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The V8 Supercars will be roaring into Newcastle in less than a week, and local emergency services will be out in force.

Supercars Australia says they've worked closely with both local and state emergency services to ensure every measure is put in place to deliver a safe and enjoyable weekend in the city.

There will be a strong police presence both inside the precinct and on the outskirts of the city.

"We're making sure from a policing aspect this is a family friendly event so we will be targeting any anti-social behaviour and those who over-indulge in alcohol so be warned. But primarily one of the key messages is about traffic and we will have a very very strong traffic contingent up from Sydney and combined with our local traffic and highway patrol officers," said NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell.

Police say they're satisfied they can manage both traffic and crowds heading into the city and are urging everyone to take public transport if they can.

"It's very very important that you give yourself ample time. It will be congested, we know that but police will be out in force so I would strongly suggest if you have the opportunity of travelling on public transport I would do so," said Assistant Commissioner Mitchell.

"One of the key aspects is about people walking to the event and making sure they can flow quite well to this precinct," said Assistant Commissioner Mitchell.

Supercars Australia has set up a dedicated medical centre and personnel for East End residents which will be on the corner of Telford and Stevenson Place and open from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th November between 7am and 7pm.

"Supercars Australia has been working with local and state emergency agencies, both police, fire and ambulance to make we sure we have a comprehensive emergency service and safety plan for the event," said event organiser Kurt Sakzewski.

We want to make sure that everyone who is involved in this event whether they're a competitor, a spectator, resident inside the circuit and also those in the surrounding areas to make it a safe and enjoyable weekend."

In addition, there will be police, fire and ambulance services located inside the track precinct during the event.

"So in the case of an emergency as per usual if someone needs urgent assistance, if they can call triple zero and in most circumstances the response time will quite likely be faster than what they normally have because we've already got those services located inside the circuit," said Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell.

Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell, Event Manager Kurt Sakzewski,
Superintendent Greg Windeatt & Inspector Luke Wiseman from NSW Ambulance.

Woman fighting for life after two car smash

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A woman is fighting for life at the John Hunter Hospital after a serious accident in Wallsend this morning.

Emergency services including NSW Ambulance Paramedics, fire crews and Police Rescue were called to Lake Road at Croudace Road just before 9am following reports of a two car collision.

The 45-year-old female was trapped in one of the vehicles for some time before she was released.

CPR was performed at the scene before she was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

As of 11am, one of two southbound lanes are closed on Lake Road at Croudace Road.

Fourth incident of paramedic assault in the Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

The Health Services Union is calling for an urgent summit to address violence towards paramedics after yet another serious assault in the Hunter.

Two paramedics approached a 37-year-old man to medically examine him on John Parade in Lemon Tree Passage on Saturday night.

When the man was told he would need to go to a hospital for further treatment he became aggravated and allegedly grabbed a knife and swung it at one of the paramedics.

It's the fourth incident to occur in the Hunter in less than two months.

Health Services Union Secretary, Gerard Hayes says this incident isn't isolated, and something needs to be done before it's too late.

"This is becoming more regular consistently whether it's alcohol related, illicit drug related, mental health or generalised social pressures but the fact of the matter is we need to be able to intervene, we need the government to be able to exercise a summit to be able to address this matter before someone does get killed."

Cardiff shed fire

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A shed has been completely destroyed in a fire on Main Road Cardiff at about 7:30 last night.

The shed went up in flames reportedly ignited by a car inside.

Fires services were on the scene quickly with five trucks keeping the blaze under control until it was extinguished.

Ambulance services also attended, but no one was inside at the time and there were no injuries.

Residents Feared Trapped In Raymond Terrace House Fire

BY IAN CROUCH

 Firefighters are working to extinguish a house which has gone up in flames at Raymond Terrace.

Emergency services responded to dozens of Triple-Oh calls just after 9.30am to the brick and tile home on Holwell Circuit, arriving to find the residence fully involved in fire.

There were fears the occupants of the house were trapped inside, prompting firefighters to conduct an urgent search and rescue operation, however they found no-one at home.

4 fire trucks along with a heavy rescue unit, Fire & Rescue Duty Commander, police and ambulance paramedics are at the scene.