Fatal Smash Closes New England Highway at Aberdeen

BY IAN CROUCH

UPDATE 9am:

The New England Highway has now reopened in both directions after being closed around five kilometres north of Segenhoe Road.

Diversions for light and heavy vehicles travelling between Scone and Muswellbrook have been lifted, while a reduced speed limit of 60 kilometres is in place.

EARLIER:

One person has died and two others have been injured in a 3-car accident at Aberdeen.

Police say the accident happened on the New England Highway about 5 kilometres north of the town at about 11.45pm on Sunday.

A 25-year-old man died at the scene while a man and woman from the others vehicles were airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital.

The highway remains closed in both directions with diversions in place.

Police Investigate Singleton House Fire

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley police are investigating the cause of a fire which severely damaged a home at Singleton.

Four fire trucks from Singleton, Branxton and a Support Vehicle from Newcastle were called to the single storey timber and iron home in Bourke Street just before 12.30am on Tuesday to find the house well alight and flames through the roof.

Two occupants managed to self-evacuate without injury.

It's taken more than an hour to bring the blaze under control, with crews mopping up hot spots until just before 3.00am.

Car Crash Ravensworth: Updated

BY IAN CROUCH

Five people including a young child have been taken to hospital following a three vehicle crash at Ravensworth.

A truck and two cars collided on the New England Highway at about 4.45am on Tuesday.

Three ambulances transported four adults and a one year old child to hospital.

The most seriously injured was a 53-year-old man who sustained a suspected fractured wrist and a deep cut to his scalp - he was taken to the John Hunter Hospital.

The Ambulance Service says all the other patients were taken to Singleton and Muswellbrook Hospitals with only minor injuries.

The highway has since been re-opened to traffic.


EARLIER:
Emergency services have been called to reports of a three vehicle crash at Ravenswortth.

The crash happened on the New England Highway new the old New England Highway north of Ravensworth at about 4.45am on Tuesday.

Traffic is affected in both directions with a contra flow in place.

15 Guns Stolen In Separate Incidents at Singleton and Woodberry

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police have launched an investigation after 14 guns were stolen from a rural property at Singleton .

A 69-year-old man returned from a week's holiday on Monday night to find two shipping containers on his New England Highway property had been broken into.

Police say a gun safe inside one of the containers had been opened and six double barrel shotguns, eight rifles and two boxes of ammunition were stolen.

In a separate incident, a 22 calibre Savage rifle and ammunition were stolen from a gun safe on a property on Michael Hill Avenue at Woodberry over the weekend.

Anyone who can assist police with their inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

BREAKING! Man Crushed By Car At East Branxton

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been tragically killed when he was crushed by his car at East Branxton.

Police say the 40-year-old was rolling the car out of the garage of his home in Harvest Court when it pinned him against a brick wall.

The man's partner made the grim discovery when she went out to check on him just after 11 o'clock last night.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

Driver Charged Over Singleton Road Carnage

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have charged the driver at the centre of yesterday's road carnage at Singleton as a critical incident investigation continues.

The 29-year-old man has been charged with stealing a motor vehicle, two counts of Skye's Law (police pursuit - not stop), using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, resisting an officer and malicious damage.

He's been refused bail to face Singleton Local Court today.

It's alleged the man stole the semi-trailer from a service station at Murrurundi before ploughing into 7 cars, a cafe and the historic Royal Hotel on George Street before the truck errupted in flames.

8 people were taken to hospital.

Police say the condition of the most seriously injured person, a 67-year-old man, is not as serious as first thought.

Acting Commander Robert Post says police were forced to use road spikes.

"All I can say is it was quite some distance the vehicle did travel from the site where the road spikes were deployed," he said.

Fireball: The Truck Erupts In Flames After Taking Out 7 Cars And Crashing Into Buildings

A restricted speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour is in place along George Street as investigations and repair works continue.

Centre Of Singleton Brought To A Standstill By Firey Truck Crash

BY IAN CROUCH

The New England Highway through Singleton has been closed after a serious truck crash involving 8 cars at Singleton.

The crash occurred just before 9.00am with a semi-trailer loaded with mushroom compost ploughing into several cars on the highway near Burdekin Park before crashing into the Royal Hotel and bursting into flames.

The NSW Ambulance Service says paramedics are treating 4 patients at the scene, two have serious injuries. One, a 63-year-old woman suffered leg and pelvic fractures, while a 67-year-old male patient has head and chest injuries.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue helicopter has been dispatched to the scene

It's understood the truck was stolen earlier this morning from the BP service station at Murrurundi while the owner driver was paying for fuel.

Police say the truck was allegedly sighted driving erratically south along the New England Highway, through Muswellbrook and towards Singleton but a pursuit was not initiated.

As the truck approached Singleton, officers deployed road spikes in order to stop the vehicle.

Police say the truck continued into George Street, Singleton, where it caught fire after crashing into several vehicles and buildings, injuring a number of people.

The driver of the alleged stolen truck was arrested at the scene and is currently assisting police with inquiries.

A critical incident team from Port Stephens Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident including the deployment of road spikes.
 

Stolen Truck Erupts In Fireball At Singleton Picture: the herald.com.au

Six Rifles among the items Stolen from AppleTree Flat Home

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A number of firearms and ammunition have been stolen from a home in Appletree Flat.

Police say that between Thursday 31st August and Monday 2nd October, someone/s forced entry into a home on Appletree Flat Road and broke into a safe stealing 15 firearms and 200 rounds of ammunition.

Among the firearms stolen are nine shotguns and six rifles.

Officers from Hunter Valley Local Area Command were notified and launched an investigation.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the stolen property is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Car Overturns In Bad Crash At Branxton

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been taken to hospital after a bad smash at Branxton early Thursday.

The 60-year-old was driving on the New England Highway just before 12.30am when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a power pole.

The force of the crash was so great, the car ended up on its roof hanging over the guard rail.

The driver was found barely conscious lying on the inside roof of the car.

He was taken the John Hunter Hospital by road ambulance in a serous condition.

Parkville Home Goes Up In Flames

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has engulfed a home at Parkville in the Upper Hunter.

Firefighters arrived at the property on Alfred Brown Lane  just before 11.30 on Tuesday night to find the unoccupied home well alight.

RFS crews are still at the scene mopping up hot spots.

Police have set up a crime scene but they don't believe the fire is suspicious, although an investigation will get under way this morning to determine how the fire started.

One Teen Dead, Another Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Crash at Jerrys Plains

BY IAN CROUCH

Investigations are continuing into a crash which claimed the life of a teenage motorbike rider at Jerrys Plains.

Police say two 17-year-old boys were riding their motorbikes along Commission Road at about 2.30pm on Sunday when they crashed head-on into a Nissan Patrol as it rounded a bend.

One of the teens died at the scene while the other suffered fractures to his skull, arm and lower legs, as well as internal injuries.

He was flown to John Hunter Hospital by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter where he remains in a serious condition.

The 59-year-old driver of the Nissan was taken to Singleton Hospital for mandatory tests.

Officers from Hunter Valley Local Area Command attended the scene and commenced inquiries.

Investigations continue however no charges are expected to be laid.

Man Tries To Snatch Young Girl From Muswellbrook Street

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police are searching for a man who tried to snatch a young girl from a Muswellbrook street.

The 10-year-old was walking along Bligh Street near Cook Street just after 4.30 yesterday afternoon when a man driving a Grey Ford Falcon sedan pulled up behind her.

The man grabbed her from behind and tried to drag her into the car but she attempted to scream and punched and kicked the man, breaking free and running home to raise the alarm.


He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, 196cm tall, aged between 20 and 30 with a slim build, brown eyes and had a black and brown short “goatee” beard.

He was last seen wearing a black hooded top and dark coloured pants.

The car is described as possibly being a light grey BA model (2002 to 2005) Ford Falcon sedan with a dent on the side at the rear of the car.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or is able to assist police with their inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.