Hunter COVID testing clinics extending hours to keep up with demand

BY JARROD MELMETH

Three of the Hunters COVID-19 testing clinics have all temporarily extended their hours after an influx of people following local coronavirus cases and exposure site.

The John Hunter Hospital, Maitland Hospital and the University drive through clinics will all stay open later as queues at a number of testing facilities form in response to the latest alerts.

Overnight Lake Munmorah Public School and Morisset High School both advised they had been visited by COVID positive students.

Target at Glendale has also been added as a COVID exposure site after a staff member tested positive to the virus. Anyone who visited the store between 8:30am and 1:30pm on Sunday, August 1 must immediately get tested.

Image: The Australian

Tanker Explosion on M1 Causing Major Delays: One Person Unaccounted For

BY MATT JOHNSTON AND JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE: 3PM

One person is unaccounted for after two trucks, including a fuel tanker collided on the M1.

Emergency services were called to the southbound lanes at about 12:50pm following reports a truck had caught fire.

A car was damaged in the inferno as well.

The Rural Fire Service is on the scene as the truck fire also sparked a bush fire north of the crash site. It's currently out of control and about 15 hectares in size.

Police are on scene and crash investigators will examine all of the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Motorists should delay their travel and completely avoid the area if possible.

Diversions are in place northbound via Mandalong Road and southbound via the Palmers Road exit.

Image 9News Twitter.

UPDATE: 2:40pm

 Two trucks and a car are involved in the crash.

Southbound traffic is queued for 12km and northbound traffic is queued for 7.5km.

It's estimated delays will add over an hour and a half to travel times.

Police are warning drivers to avoid the M1, with diversions in place through Morisset.

Traffic is also "very heavy" on Freemans Dr, Mandalong Rd and Wyee Rd.

Smoke is reducing visibility in the area.


EARLIER


Heavy traffic is backing up on the M1 with both north and southbound lanes closed.

Initial reports were a B-double had caught fire just after 1pm, blocking both lanes.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter is en route along with emergency services following reports a tanker has exploded.

Ambulance paramedics have assessed the driver of the B-double at the scene and report he is uninjured.

The Rural Fire Service are on scene as the fire has spread to nearby bushland.

Drivers are being cautioned to allow extra travel time due to heavy delays.

More details to come.

#NSWRFS & #FRNSW are on scene at a truck crash on the #M1 motorway One of the vehicles has caught on fire which has spread to near by bush land. The #M1 is closed. If travelling in the area please give way to emergency services vehicles responding to the scene. pic.twitter.com/5lMQ2lUwzC

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 15, 2018

#UPDATE: More @NSWRFS resources are on the way to a major crash on the M1 near Cooranbong. It's believed the truck driver self-evacuated. #9News pic.twitter.com/dPPheVwRqD

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) January 15, 2018

Lake Macquarie Man Accused Of Breaching AVO While Driving With Alleged Victim

BY IAN CROUCH

A Cooranbong man is due to face Toronto Local Court on a raft of charges after he was caught allegedly driving an unregistered and uninsured car while under the influence of drugs.

Police claim the disqualified driver had stolen property in his car when they stopped him on Mandalong Road at Morisset on Thursday night - and there are two warrants out for his arrest.

To make matters worse, they say he was also breaching an AVO because the person in need of protection was in the car with him.

Investigations Continue into Death of 70yo Man in Morisset Granny Flat

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Although not yet formally identified, it's believed the man who was tragically killed in a shed fire at Morisset overnight was the 70-year-old male occupant. 

Fire crews responded to several calls to Triple Zero just after 2 o'clock this morning following reports a granny flat in the rear of a property on Stockton Street had gone up in flames. 

Crews quickly extinguished the blaze containing it before it spread to neighbouring properties and buildings, fighting flames which were reportedly15 metres high.

Once the fire was extinguished, they made the grim discovery and a crime scene was established.

"When the fire was extinguished and the scene examined the body of a male person was located inside that granny flat. Detectives were called to the scene and subsequently started an investigation and will prepare a report for the coroner," said Crime Manager Detective Inspector Craig Davis.

"We believe at this stage the deceased may be the 70-year-old occupant but that, of course, is not confirmed and further identification process will be conducted forensically," said Detective Inspector Davis.

The granny flat was completely destroyed.

Michael who lives next door told Nine News he was in complete shock this morning.

"It was a bit of a shock when I spoke to the detectives here and he showed me a photo of his license and just bang, it hit me like a tonne of bricks,"

"He was alright, he was a very honest bloke, very outgoing and this is a real big shock for me."

A man’s body has been discovered in a shed that was destroyed by fire near Lake Macquarie: https://t.co/Qwi3E33quc pic.twitter.com/70oRccN0vf

— NBN News (@nbnnews) December 4, 2017

Detective Inspector Davis believes it was the quick work of firefighters on the scene that stopped the blaze from spreading.

"Very lucky. The fire brigade were on the scene fairly quickly and the fire brigade was called fairly quickly. It's a residential area so they're lucky they got to it early."

Anyone who has any information, or saw anything this morning, are urged to contact Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000

Man Caught Taking Photos Of Children At Morisset School

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for public help to identify a man who was spotted taking photos of schoolchildren at Morisset.

The man walked up to a fence at Saint John Vianney Primary School in Doyalson Street at about 1.30pm on Tuesday and took several photos of children playing.

When a teacher approached the man, he ran off down Dora Street.

Police from the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command have launched an investigation.

The man's been described as being of Indian Sub-Continental appearance, aged in his late 40s to early 50s, wearing a black hat, black t-shirt and white pants.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 33 000.

Boy Attacks Morisset Man at Central Coast Train Station

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after allegedly bashing a Morisset man at a train station on the Central Coast.

Police say the 31-year-old was waiting for a train at Narara when he was attacked by the boy at around 10pm.

The 16-year-old punched the man and then allegedly demanded his mobile which he then allegedly smashed on the ground.

The boy didn't stop there, he then continued to assault the man allegedly kicking him to the ground before stomping on his head. The man suffered severe head injuries and was treated at the scene before being taken to Gosford Hospital for further treatment.

The 16-year-old was arrested a short time later by police and taken to Gosford Police Station where he continued to be aggressive allegedly threatening one officer and punching another officer in the face.

He will face a Children's court today charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, intimidation, assault police and malicious damage.

Operation Slow Down wraps up the Long Weekend

BY JESSICA ROUSE and IAN CROUCH

It's been a tragic long weekend on the Hunter's roads, with three lives lost.

A 57-year-old man died when his Honda Jazz crashed into a fence on Kalaroo Road at Redhead on Sunday night - police believe he suffered a medical episode prior to the crash.

Meanwhile, Blake Mins and Matt Lambert died in a firey crash at Morisset on Saturday morning.

And a woman in her 70's suffered serious injuries after she was hit by a car on Turton Road at Waratah yesterday.

Across the state, the NSW Police Force's Operation Slow Down booked just over 6,200 people for speeding and charged 215 people with drink driving. More than 188,300 were breathalysed.

14,429 people in total were issued with infringements and five people died over the long weekend.

During the same operation last year, only one person lost their life.

Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver from Traffic and Highway Patrol said even with the extra police presence out on the roads, it was quite disheartening to see drivers continue to speed or act dangerously behind the wheel.

"These deaths bring the number of lives lost on our roads this year to 290. That is 290 people who set out on a journey and didn't make it home, changing the lives of their family and friends forever."

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.

Lake Macquarie men charged with large scale drug supply

BY JESSICA ROUSE

NSW Strike Force Dunrossil with the assistance of officers from the Gangs Squad's Strike Force Raptor have arrested and charged two men as part of an investigation into large commercial drug supply in Lake Macquarie.

Seven search warrants were executed at about 11am on Tuesday for five homes in Cooranbong, Bolcolyn, Eraring, Terrigal, and Sunshine and two Morisset businesses.

A 35-year old man was arrested at Morisset and taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with two counts of commercial drug supply.

He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court yesterday where he was formally refused bail to appear again today.

A 28-year old man was also arrested at another Morisset property and taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with two counts of drug supply and recklessly deal in proceeds of crime.

He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear in Toronto Local Court on 24th January next year.

Police allegedly seized more than $100, 000 in cash, methylamphetamine, cocaine, steroids, various prohibited weapons, mobile phones, business documents and a BMW X5.

Police continue to investigate.

Image courtesy of NSW Police Force Facebook page.