House Destroyed By Fire At Woodberry

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a home at Woodberry overnight.

Six fire trucks from Minmi, Tarro, Mayfield West and East Maitland were called to the single storey weatherboard and tile home on Tahlee Avenue just after 2.00am on Friday to find the unoccupied and boarded-up house engulfed in flames.

It's taken about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control, with crews wrapping up at the scene just before 4 o'clock.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Police Investigate Drive-By Shooting At Gillieston Heights

BY IAN CROUCH

Central Hunter Police are investigating a drive-by shooting at Gillieston Heights.

Police say several shots were fired into a home and garage on Paradise Street just before 12.30am on Friday.

A female occupant of the house wasn't injured.

Police have been told that after the shots were fired a vehicle was seen to drive from the area.

It's believed that the shooting was targeted.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police Investigations Continue After Woman Hit by Taxi in Rutherford

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still investigating whether or not they will lay charges against a female taxi driver after a woman was struck by the taxi she was driving.

Police say at about 7:50am yesterday morning emergency services were called to the car park of a shopping centre in Rutherford in West Mall following reports a woman had been hit by a taxi.

The woman, aged in her 60s, was taken to the John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

The 42-year-old driver was taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory tests.

Officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command established a crime scene and continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is being urged to come forward.

Kurri Kurri Drive-By Shooting Thought to Be Bikie Gang Related

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have charged a man with firearm offenses for an alleged drive-by shooting in Kurri Kurri earlier this year.

Projectiles were fired into a vehicle and a dwelling in Greta Street at about 1:50am on October 15 - a mother and three children were reportedly asleep in the home at the time. 

Police from the Central Hunter Local Area Command found a partially burnt out Mitsubishi Magna not far from the incident on the same night.

Following extensive inquiries police arrested a 21-year-old man at Tuggerah yesterday and charged him over the incident.

He was charged with fire firearm at dwelling and fire firearm at other than dwelling disregarding safety.

Police believe the incident may have been bikie gang related (OMCG). The man is believed to be a nominee for the Finks.

The 21-year-old will appear at Wyong Local Court today.


EARLIER

Drive-By Shooting At Kurri Kurri

Vacy Man Killed at Mindaribba

UPDATE

A 36-year-old man has been tragically killed in a smash near Maitland this morning.

Emergency crews were called to Tocal Road at Mindaribba just after 6 o'clock following reports a car had slammed into a tree.

They arrived to find the Vacy man dead at the scene.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner while investigations continue.

BY IAN CROUCH

One person has died in a single vehicle crash at Mindaribba.

Emergency services were called to Tocal Road near the Mindaribba Railway Station at 6.15am on Monday to reports a car had slammed into a tree.

They arrived to find one person dead at the scene.

No other details are available at this stage.

Body Found After Shed Fire At Morisset: Shocking Footage

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have set up a crime scene after the body of a man was discovered in the burnt out remains of a shed at Morisset.

Fire crews responded to several triple oh calls at 2.20am on Monday, arriving to find the shed at the rear of a property on Stockton Street well alight.


The fire was quickly extinguished and a check of the premises revealed the body of a man, believed to be the occupant.

A crime scene has been established while investigations into the cause of the blaze continue by detectives from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command.

Watch vision of the fire here, courtesy Nine Network:

https://twitter.com/thetodayshow/status/937389653178572800

A man’s body has been found inside a shed following a fire at Morisset. #9News pic.twitter.com/0iXxDvJ8oK

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) December 3, 2017

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, police and fire investigators are investigating the circumstances surrounding a house fire at Telarah.

Crews arrived at the weatherboard home in Simpson Lane at about 8.00pm on Sunday to find the house well alight.

The occupants managed to escape unharmed.

It's taken firefighters about three hours to extinguish and mop up the fire which caused extensive damage to the property.