Police looking for missing man from East Maitland

BY JARROD MELMETH

UPDATE:

Corey was found safe and well at Clarence Town on Thursday morning. 

EARLIER:

Police are appealing for assistance to locate a man missing from East Maitland.

24-year-old Corey Davies was last seen leaving his home on David Avenue, about 5:30pm on Wednesday in a silver Volvo sedan with plates reading DGB-11Y.

Corey's family who are concerned about his welfare contacted police and reported him missing, before inquiries into his whereabouts were conducted.

It's believed he may have been in the Karuah area at about 5:30am on Thursday morning. 

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance and of medium build with short dark hair. He was last seen wearing a short-sleeved white shirt and grey shorts. 

Anyone with information about Corey’s whereabouts is urged to contact Maitland Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

MISSING: 24-year-old Corey Davis

MISSING: The car Corey was last seen leaving his home in East Maitland in.

Fears Held For Missing Karuah Man

BY IAN CROUCH

Police hold serious concerns for the welfare of a man who's gone missing from Karuah.

Matthew James was last seen by his family driving away from his home on Monday morning in a white 1989 Toyota Hilux.

It's believed the 41-year-old could've been headed to bushland in the Port Stephens and Lower Mid North Coast areas - but he could also be travelling to Queensland.

He's not been in touch with his family - and they are very worried because he suffers from a medical condition.

Matthew is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175 to 180 centimetres tall with a medium to solid build - and he regularly wears a wide-brimmed hat.

Anyone who knows his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing Karuah Man, Matthew James

Matthew's 1989 Toyota Hilux

UPDATED: Another fatality on the Hunter's roads

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

Police now believe the man who tragically lost his life near Aberdeen this morning may have been hitch-hiking at the time.

Emergency services were called to the New England Highway 5km south of Aberdeen at about 4:40am where they found a man had sustained multiple injuries after being hit by a car.

Police say he looked to have been hitch-hiking between Aberdeen and Muswellbrook.

The 18-year-old female driver of the car which allegedly hit him was treated for shock, and underwent mandatory testing at Muswellbrook Hospital.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen the man before 4:30am today to contact Muswellbrook Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

EARLIER:

There's been another tragic road fatality in the Hunter this morning, the third in just three days.

A male pedestrian has been hit by a car on the New England Highway about 5 kilometres south of Aberdeen.

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 4:40am - one southbound lane of the highway is closed and traffic is expected to be disrupted while the scene is examined this morning.

The female driver of the vehicle remained at the scene to provide assistance.

She was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for mandatory testing.

It comes after a 17-year-old motorbike rider died in a crash at West Wallsend on Sunday, and a pedestrian struck and killed by a semi-trailer at Karuah on Monday morning.

UPDATE: Pedestrian killed near Karuah earlier today

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

Police are trying to piece together how a pedestrian was killed near Karuah earlier today.

Officers from Port Stephens Local Area Command were called to the northbound Tarean Road off ramp exit at Karuah following reports a pedestrian had been hit by a truck.

The truck driver was treated at the scene for shock, but sadly the male pedestrian in his 30s was killed.

EARLIER

Police were called to reports of a serious accident on the Pacific Highway at Karuah earlier this morning.

It's understood a pedestrian was hit by a truck at Tarean Road just before 6.30.

One of two southbound lanes on the highway is still closed.

The condition of the pedestrian is still not known.

Details to come.

Port Stephens oyster farmers counting the cost

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Port Stephens oyster farmers are calling the theft of 350 dozen oysters an inside job.

The farmers at two Karuah oyster farms are counting the cost of the 22,000 oysters which were stolen last weekend.

They've told the Herald they suspect the thieves have a very good working knowledge of the industry and a ready-made supply chain to sell the oysters which are currently in short supply.

The farmers believe the thieves would have arrived by boat.

They also stole two chainsaws and some wet weather gear.

Driver Pleads Guilty To Fatal 2001 Crash

By IAN CROUCH

 A driver has pleaded guilty to causing a horrific head-on smash at Karuah 15 years ago which claimed the life of a British tourist and left 3 others seriously injured.

Michael Collins was disqualified from driving and high on cannabis when his Toyota Supra crossed to the wrong side of the Pacific Highway and collided with a campervan on January 13, 2001, killing 26-year-old Arabetta Stuart.

39-year-old Collins, also known as Metin Yuceturk, fled to Turkey less than a month after the crash and spent several years in hiding before being arrested in Sydney in October last year.

Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death and three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Charges of driving while disqualified, negligent driving and driving while under the influence of drugs will be considered when Collins is sentenced in Newcastle District Court.

He remains on bail after posting a $20,000 surety with the matter adjourned until July.

Images of the horrific crash scene in January 2001 courtesy theherald.com.au