UPDATE: 61-Year-Old Man Dies After Crashing into Tree in Buchanan

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A 61-year-old man has died after his car crashed into a tree on John Renshaw Drive in Buchanan.

About 10.35am on Friday the 22nd May, emergency services were called to the scene, just after the intersection of Old Buttai Road, after an Isuzu utility left the roadway and crashed into a tree.

The driver and sole occupant was found trapped in the vehicle before being released, and going in cardiac arrest. 

Emergency services attempted to revive the man, however he died at the scene.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Man Goes Into Cardiac Arrest Following Serious Crash on John Renshaw Drive in Buchanan

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man has gone into cardiac arrest after his ute crashed into a tree on John Renshaw Drive, in a serious single vehicle crash in Buchanan, just after 10:30am this morning.

A medical team was transported to the scene, just after the intersection of Old Buttai Road, by helicopter, with 4 ambulance crews, police and traffic control remaining on scene.

The man was freed from his vehicle after becoming trapped, and went into cardiac arrest shortly after.

John Renshaw drive is closed from the Hunter Express Way to the M1 Pacific Motorway.

One dead and 158 drivers charged with Drink Driving during Operation Safe Return

BY JESSICA ROUSE

NSW Police are alarmed at the number of drivers throughout the state and across the Hunter who in the last three days endangered the lives of other road users.

Operation Safe Return including double demerits concluded at midnight - police breathalysed more than 150,000 drivers, charging 158 of them.

Two people lost their lives on the state's roads during the operation including one driver who lost his life in the Hunter.

The 52-year-old was the passenger in Ford Sedan which hit a tree at Buchanan south of Maitland in the Werekata State Conservation Area on Friday night.

The driver, a 20-year-old man, is in a critical condition in hospital and the two other passengers both aged 18 were taken to hospital at the time with minor injuries.

The Crash Investigation Unit is investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the crash and the car has been seized as a part of inquiries.

Police also issued more than 3,660 speeding infringements.

A Hunter Valley man is off to court in March after he was caught by Highway Patrol officers traveling in excess of the signposted 90km/hr on the New England Highway near Singleton on Friday.

The car took off from police and a pursuit was initiated with the driver then then seen driving an estimated speed of 120km/hr to 140km/hr in a 60km.hr zone at Singleton.

The 20-year-old driver was eventually stopped and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with six traffic offenses.

Buchanan Road upgrades make way for a safer road

BY JESSICA ROUSE

John Renshaw Drive at Buchanan  is now a whole lot safer for motorists with construction works finally completed.

The nearly $1.2 million dollar upgrade aimed to reduce the risk of crashes by installing roadside and median safety barriers to prevent vehicles crossing over to the wrong side of the road.

Improvements were also made to the road surface and wider median strips have been painted.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says the works started in May and were completed on budget and on time.

Acting Chair of the Traffic Committee and Maitland Councillor Bob Geoghegan said "It is very good to see the improvements on this road which is getting busier, as it is one of the main roads between East Maitland and the Hunter Expressway".

Image ozroads.com.au

Man almost evades police in pursuit overnight

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has suffered a suspected heart attack while attempting to evade police after a police pursuit through Maitland overnight.

Police' alarm bells started to ring when they spotted a Holden Commodore allegedly travelling well over the speed limit on High Street just after 9pm.

They gave chase when the car failed to stop.

The car was involved in a minor collision with a stationary Subaru Outback at a roundabout on the New England Highway at Buchanan.

The driver fled but was found by a police dog two kilometres away.

He's being treated in hospital for the suspected heart attack and is expected to be charged once he's released.