Fatal Crash on Cessnock Road

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

One person has died and another is in hospital following a serious crash at Maitland during the early hours of Friday morning.

Around 2:30am, emergency services responded to reports a Kia Rio and a Ford Falcon sedan had collided head-on while travelling on Cessnock Road.

The driver of the Kia, a woman believed to be aged in her 50s, died at the scene and is yet to be formally identified.

The male driver of the Ford sustained a back injury in the crash and has been taken to hospital for treatment.

While in hospital the man, also believed to be in his 50s, will undergo mandatory testing.

Both drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles.

Port Stephens Hunter police are working with Newcastle's Crash Investigation Unit to investigate the circumstances of the crash and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

At 5:45am,Cessnock Road remained closed in both directions between the New England Highway and Gillieston Road as officers examine the scene.

Police Track Down Driver who was Caught on Camera Driving Dangerously

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police say they've arrested the driver who was seen driving erratically at Gillieston Heights over the weekend.

Just after 11:35 yesterday morning, a member of the public filmed a Nissan Skyline GTR allegedly driving dangerously on Cessnock Road. The car is seen driving onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic.

The footage was posted online and quickly went viral.

Police became aware of the footage and commenced inquiries. They located the car on Maitland Road at Cessnock at about 12:40pm.

The 39-year-old driver was arrested and taken to Cessnock Hospital to undergo blood and urine testing.

He was taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with drive manner dangerous; negligent driving; overtake to left of vehicle; and not keep left of dividing line.

The man was given bail to appear at Kurri Kurri Local Court on January 11, 2018.

Police Investigate Shooting At Kitchener

BY IAN CROUCH

Three people have escaped injury after a drive-by shooting at Kitchener.

A number of shots were fired into their home on Cessnock Road just after 10.30 on Saturday night.

Two women, aged 18 and 52, and a 52-year-old man, who were in the home at the time, were uninjured.

Central Hunter Police commenced an investigation and are treating the shooting as targeted.

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

A fix for Testers Hollow could be underway by mid next year

BY SARAH JAMES

Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson has welcomed the announcement that work on raising the road at Tester's Hollow will next start year, but slammed the NSW Government for its $2 million contribution to the $17 million project.

During last year's election campaign the Liberal government had promised $15 million would go towards the project.

However, Meryl Swanson is claiming the announcement as a 'win', having lobbied hard since the election for the Coalition commitment to be realised.

"The government is now waiting on a proposal from the state government within weeks - so I'm very pleased about that, and then once they get that report from the state government they're going to be doing that planning work with construction to start in 2019," she said.

Federal Member For Paterson Meryl Swanson