Trucking Association Calls for Better Investigation Processes

BY SARAH JAMES

The Australian Trucking Association is calling for a change in the way truck crashes are investigated.

It comes following a horror crash at COORANBONG on Monday which caused a man's death and saw the M1 motorway closed to traffic.

A huge blaze was sparked as a fuel tanker clipped a parked truck, and the tanker full of ethanol exploded.

The truck driver who collided with the end of the pile-up sadly died at the scene.

Geoff Crouch from the Trucking Association says the federal government needs to give the Australian Transport Safety Bureau the power to investigate truck accidents.

In the past twelve months, NSW truck fatalities have increased by 86%. NSW is the only state to experience this trend, with the rest of Australia having their number of truck-related deaths fall.

At present, there is no clear reason for this increase in fatalities.

Geoff Crouch says the involvement of the Australian Safety Transport Bureau will allow better safety measures and regulations to be put in place.

"We are calling for the appropriate level of funding to be given to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau...to investigate serious road accidents and to come back with recommendations on how to prevent them from happening again," he said.

Australian Trucking Association

One Dead In Firey Truck Crash At Cooranbong

BY IAN CROUCH

The M1 Pacific Motorway has been reopened more than 14 hours after a firey truck crash which claimed the life of a male driver at Cooranbong.

Emergency services were called to the southbound lanes of the freeway about one kilometre south of the Freemans Drive Interchange just before 1.00pm on Monday.

Three trucks including a fuel tanker collided causing a massive explosion and fire - a car was also destroyed in the blaze which also started a bushfire which burnt through 16 hectares.

It's believed a southbound truck clipped another parked by the side of the freeway before another truck and the car crashed into the wreckage.

The drivers of the other vehicles escaped serious injury.

M1 Inferno Picture: Fairfax

Wanted Man Heads to Court After Dramatic Police Chase

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The man at the centre of the dramatic police chase across the Hunter heads to court today on a dozen charges.

Just after 10am yesterday police allege they attempted to pull the 22-year-old over in Wallsend but he refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

Police chased the man to the Hunter Expressway where they terminated the chase for a short time for safety reasons. Officers spotted him not long after driving on the Expressway on the wrong side of the road and gave chase for a second time.

The man managed to avoid to deployments of road spikes by police and then drove to Newcastle Link Road and then onto the M1 Pacific Motorway. It's here police allege he forced a vehicle off the road by colliding with it and then attempted and failed to "car jack" it.

He then successfully stole a white Audi Sedan allegedly armed with an edged weapon and took off.

Police in the area initiated another chase, but had to terminate not long after when the 22-year-old crossed to the wrong side of the Motorway.

Once he reached the Dora Creek Bridge, he tried and failed to "car jack" another three vehicles.

This is where police caught up with the man and tried to arrest him. The 22-year-old rammed into an unmarked police vehicle which caused minor injuries to two officers. But thankfully with the help of other officers the man was finally arrested at the scene.

He was taken to Toronto Police Station and slapped with a dozen charges: take detain person with intent to obtain advantage, armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, aggravated take drive vehicle whilst armed with offensive weapon, resist officer in execution of duty, intentionally choke person with recklessness, common assault, display unauthorised registration plates, and a warrant for revocation of parole.

The 22-year-old was originally wanted for Domestic Violence matters.

He was refused bail and faces Toronto Local Court today.

"A Terrible Tragedy": NSW Police on Double Fatal near Cameron Park

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Investigations are continuing into the death of a 27-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy on the M1 Pacific Motorway yesterday afternoon.

At about 5:30pm, police believe they were travelling in a Tarago van southbound and pulled into a breakdown bay near George Booth Drive where the driver got out and opened the side door.

"At that stage, we believe an 8-year-old child has entered the roadway followed by a 27-year-old carer. Obviously, both were killed we believe instantly when a pantech truck travelling south collided with both of those," said Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith.

The driver of the truck, a 57-year-old man, was treated for shock and taken to the John Hunter Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.

Police aren't able to comment on the results of the tests and still don't know exactly what happened and why.

The M1 was closed for more than five hours while investigators tried to piece together what had happened.

"Look I can tell you I know how I felt when the phone call came and I was deploying crash investigators last night. We sent a number of them up, we were already getting feedback from the roadside that it's a terrible tragedy," said Assistant Commissioner Smith.

"Obviously there's grief counselling for emergency services at the moment but then we've got to deal with the grief of the wider group of family members which is going to be forever."

The incident was one of nine fatal crashed over the weekend which police say were largely due to the inclement weather.

"It is a tragic day for emergency services. The nine deaths on the road on the weekend would be affecting hundreds more. There would be families who are grieving today. The investigations of all of those are in their infancy but certainly, six of those deaths can be attributed to poor driving," said Assistant Commissioner Smith.

The Accident Scene At Cameron Park Picture smh.com.au

Woman And Boy Killed In Pedestrian Accident At Cameron Park

BY IAN CROUCH

The M1 Pacific Motorway has been reopened to traffic after a double fatality at Cameron Park.

A 28-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy were killed after being hit by a truck in the southbound lanes near George Booth Drive just after 5.30pm on Sunday.

The pair were not related but were known to each other.

Police say a Toyota Tarago was parked on the shoulder of the motorway with its sliding door open.

A 57-year-old man who was driving the truck was treated for shock and taken to the John Hunter Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.

The M1 was closed for more than five hours while investigations took place.

The Accident Scene At Cameron Park Picture smh.com.au

Horror Weekend On The Hunter's Roads

BY IAN CROUCH

It's been a horror weekend on the Hunter's roads, with two men killed in separate crashes.

A motorcyclist died in a head-on crash with a Toyota Landcruiser on the Golden Highway at Jerrys Plains yesterday afternoon.

A man was killed and another injured when a hatchback collided with a utility on the M1 at West Wallsend early Saturday.

Meanwhile,  a 39-year-old man is due front Newcastle Local Court accused of leaving the scene of a fatal crash at Buladehlah two weeks ago.

He was arrested after police stopped a car he was driving on The Esplanade at Warners Bay on Saturday night.

UPDATE Black Hill Fire Listed As Watch And Act: 4.45pm

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE: 4:45pm Still at Watch and Act.

Black Hill Road is closed in both directions between John Renshaw Drive and Lenaghans Drive. Take the M1 or John Renshaw Drive instead.

It's still out of control and we're advised to continue monitoring the situation. even though there's no big threat to homes at this stage.

UPDATE: 3:10pm Parents with children from Black Hill Public School are being advised by the RFS they are able to pick children up at Lenaghans Drive on the east side of the M1 following a fire evacuation.

UPDATE: 1.45pm Browns Road has been closed, The fast-moving fire has burnt through 17 hectares of bush.

UPDATE: 1.40pm A helitanker is en route to assist firefighters at the Black Hill fire.

UPDATE: 1.30pm The fire has been downgraded to Watch and Act but is still out of control and a number of rural properties may still come under threat.

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An Emergency Warning has just been issued for an out of control bushfire at Browns Road at Black Hill.

The fire It is burning to the west of the M1 Motorway.

There is a number of rural properties along Black Hill Road which may come under threat.

The fire is spreading quickly and it's likely Black Hill Road will be closed in both directions.

The Rural Fire Service says if you are in the area of Black Hill Road and your plan is leave, leave now if the path is clear.

If the fire impacts on your property, seek shelter and protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
There is heavy smoke in the area.

Reports suggest the Richmond Vale fire is now under control.

There are reports a rail carriage at the Richmond Vale Rail Museum has been destroyed in the fire.

Bush fire closes Pacific Highway

BY JARROD MELMETH

New South Wales Fire and Rescue say they have the upper hand on a bushfire at Ferodale, near Medowie that has closed the Pacific Highway in both directions.

The fire had jumped the motorway causing the road to be closed between the Buckets Way and Medowie road.

Inspector Ben Shepherd from NSWFR says the threat has eased but the highway will remain closed for another 30 minutes.

"That's mostly cause crews are working from that highway in an effort to try and control that fire.

"Although the threat has eased, we are still asking people to monitor the situation," Inspector Shepherd said.

Southbound motorists are advised to divert onto the Buckets Way, Limeburners Creek Road, East Seaham Road and Warren Street Road then Seaham Road.

Northbound motorists are advised to divert onto Seaham Road, Warren Street, East Seaham Road, Limeburners Creek Road and the Buckets Way.

It follows a fire at Cameron Park that burned through five hectares of bushland at around 5:30 this morning.

Photo source: Fire and Rescue Raymond Terrace.

Truck Crash Morisset

BY IAN CROUCH

A truck driver has been taken to hospital after a crash on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Morisset.

The truck was travelling in the northbound lanes near the Mandalong Road Interchange just before 4.00am when it's believed the driver fainted at the wheel.

The truck then crashed into thick scrub on the median strip.

He's been taken to hospital as a precaution.

Firefighters are at the scene using chainsaws to get to the truck.

M1 Pacific Motorway extension in the pipeline

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The NSW Government has committed to further planning of the M1 Pacific Highway extension to aid traffic flow to Raymond Terrace but without a completion date in sight, the missing link could be years away.

The budget revealed a $5 million funding injection for planning adding to the $7 million already given last year for planning a possible exit ramp off the motorway south of Heatherbrae and a free flowing interchange a Tomago in place of the roundabout already there.

After community consultation, last August and September, the plan for a 15 kilometre bypass of Hexham and Heatherbrae linking two of the state's busiest highways, with interchanges at Tarro, Tomago, Black Hill and Raymond Terrace and a 2.6 kilometre bridge over Woodlands Close, the New England Highway and the Hunter River.

Overview of M1 extension Image www.rms.nsw.gov.au

NRMA Hunter Chairman Kyle Loades says once planning is completed money will start to be poured into the project.

"So it's important to understand that the process is there for good reason - you have to get the planning right, you've got to get the project shovel-ready and then you can attract the funds. The planning hasn't been completed yet so we're hoping that this will be the last year of planning."

"We're very confident that this won't be just left idol for a decade. This will be committed to in the next year or so and let's get on with it because it's a massive bottleneck for Hunter motorists today and/or when people head north on holidays," said Kyle Loades.

Plans to close the iconic Driver Reviver near Beresfield

BY JESSICA ROUSE and JESSICA WORBOYS

The Morisset Lions Club run Driver Reviver station beside the roundabout at the end of the M1 Pacific Motorway near Beresfield could be no more.

The station site is set to become a part of NSW Roads and Maritime Services planned upgrade of the intersection for road widening.

Morisset Lions Club have not only served hundreds of thousands of cups of tea, coffee and handed out millions of biscuits, but have also helped keep down the road toll at the same time.

The decision has saddened and disappointed many, with thousands of people even signing a petition to save the station but to no avail; and no alternative site has been found.

Refilled and replenished, this could be the last Christmas holiday the station is open with the 2017 October long weekend to be its last weekend open.

Image courtesy of NBN News.

Hunter Residents Encouraged to Provide Feedback on M1 Intersection Upgrade

BY GEORGIA LUPTON

The Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) are encouraging the Hunter community to provide feedback on planned upgrades to the intersection at the end of the M1 Pacific Motorway.

The proposal sees the roundabout at the intersection of John Renshaw Drive and Weakleys Drive replaced with traffic lights to improve traffic flow and safety of motorists.

The roundabout connects the M1 Pacific Motorway, the Pacific Highway and the New England Highway with statistics suggesting around 4000 vehicles use the roundabout each hour.

The project will be funded jointly by the Federal and State Government's M1 Pacific Motorway Productivity Package.

Concept designs and an environmental assessment are on display at the RMS Regional Office on Darby Street, Newcastle or can be viewed online at rms.nsw.gov.au.

Feedback can be placed until the 7th of December 2016.

Proposed Upgrades in Beresfield. Image Courtesy: rms.nsw.gov.au

Man in critical condition after M1 Pacific Motorway accident

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Traffic is slowly getting back to normal on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Mount White this morning after a truck hit a rock wall exploding into flames.

Just before 5:30am, emergency services were called to Jolls Bridge on the M1 following reports a truck had hit a rock wall.

Officers from Northern Region Highway Patrol and Brisbane Water Local Area Command attended the scene and are investigating.

The driver, believed to be in his late 30's, was pulled from the truck by passing motorists just as it caught alight.

The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before being airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

Hunter motorists had a long drive ahead of them with traffic backed up for more than 10 kilometres.

All southbound lanes are now open.

Woman Seriously Injured In M1 Motorway Crash

BY IAN CROUCH

 Traffic is getting back to normal on the M1 Pacific Motorway after an accident at Halloran.

Emergency services were called to the northbound lanes about 2 kilometres north of Sparks Road just after 7.30 where a car had left the freeway and slammed into a tree.

Northbound traffic was brought to a standstill while the Hunter's Westpac Rescue helicopter landed on the roadway.

The 58-year-old female driver of the car was trapped for about half an hour before being released.

She's been flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition with multiple injuries.