UPDATE: Three Injured as Truck and Motorhome Crash on Nelson Bay Road

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A 90-year-old man has been airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition following this morning's truck and motorhome crash.

The man, who was driving the motorhome, had to be freed from the vehicle and is being flown to hospital suffering head and limb injuries.

An elderly female passenger travelling in the motorhome has been taken to the John Hunter via road ambulance.

The male truck driver was also transported to hospital by road.

EARLIER:

A man has been taken to hospital and two other patients are being assessed following a serious crash on Nelson Bay Rd at Bob's Farm.

Paramedics were called to the scene near Marsh Road just after 9 o'clock Monday morning, following reports a truck had collided with a motorhome.

The male truck driver was transported to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition suffering back pain.

Two other patients, believed to be an elderly man and woman travelling in the motorhome, are being assessed at the scene after paramedics worked to free the male driver from the vehicle.

The Westpac Rescue helicopter has been called to the scene.

Pedestrian Killed in Port Stephens Identity Remains a Mystery

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still appealing for the help in identifying a man who was run over in Port Stephens over the weekend.

Emergency services were called to Nelson Bay Road at Fullerton Cove just after 9pm on Saturday after a pedestrian was struck by a Toyota Camry.

The man tragically died at the scene.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

A crime scene was established by officers from Port Stephens Hunter Police District.

The driver, a 19-year-old woman, was taken to hospital for mandatory tests.

The man who was killed is being described as being of Caucasian in appearance, aged in his 60s with balding grey hair. He was wearing a dark blue jumper and black shorts, along with black socks and thongs.

He had no identification on him and only a small amount of cash and a receipt from a transaction at a Stockton supermarket at 6pm the previous day, Saturday January 20.

Police are reappealing for the public's help this morning and anyone with any information is being urged to come forward.

Father And Three Children Treated For Smoke Inhaltion At Anna Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

A father and his three young children have been treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at their Anna Bay home last night.

The 32-year-old man was taking a shower in their Nelson Bay Road home at about 9pm when a smoke alarm went off.

He rushed out of the shower to find thick smoke in the bedroom of his 1-year-old daughter and managed to rescue her.

The man called out to his father-in-law in an adjacent house to come and help and they removed his other two children aged 3 and 5.

The two men managed to put out the fire with an extinguisher and a garden hose before fire crews arrived.

It's believed an electrical fault in a lamp sitting on a change table sparked the blaze, which caused only minor damage to the home.

Road Funding for Port Stephens

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Five of Port Stephen's worst road blackspots won't be a danger for much longer, with a funding boost from the state government.

As a part of the Safer Roads Program $3 million will be invested into projects like off-road cycleways and widened lanes on Nelson Bay Road, nearly $800,000 into two intersections on Lemon Tree Passage Road and traffic calming devices in a couple of areas.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says in regional areas, including the Hunter, 254 people have lost their lives on local roads. That's two-thirds of the total road toll for 2016.

"It's really targeted at some of those areas where there's evidence of crashes and injuries and even death. Regional NSW is unfortunately disproportionately represented in terms of road deaths and road injuries."

The five upgrades are:
- $300,000 for off-road cycleways at roundabouts, and widening lanes for more cycleways on a 9.5km length of nNelson Bay Road and east of Marsh Road, Williamtown/Salt Ash
- $795,000 for two intersections on Lemon Tree Passage Road, Tenilba Bay
- $1.65 million to install a two lane roundabout at intersection of Raymond Terrace Road and Seaham Road at Nelsons Plains
- $120,000 to install traffic calming devices, improve road surface with increased friction and improve sight distance at intersection of Shoal Bay Road and Gowrie Avenue at Nelson Bay
- $190,000 to install traffic calming devices to reduce risk of crashes on Foreshore Drive, Port Stephens Drive, Salamander Bay

Scot MacDonald says ironically, the money being used for the projects comes from drivers themselves. 

"Look unfortunately the money comes out of speed camera revenue which is dedicated to going back to safer roads. No one likes to be pinged and pay those fines, but at least if you do get caught and you do pay that fine you understand the money is going back to Safer Roads Program,." he said.

Image ferrovial.com

Two People Injured In Early Morning Smash At Salt Ash

BY IAN CROUCH

Traffic on Nelson Bay Road was thrown into chaos by a serious crash this morning.

Two cars collided near March Road just after 5.30am

A 24-year-old man driving one of the cars was was trapped for a short time before being freed.

He was flown to the John Hunter Hospital by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter with possible hip fractures.

The 39-year-old female driver in the second car was taken by road ambulance to the John Hunter  with abdominal injuries.

Both drivers are reported to be in a stable condition.

Update: Fire at Murray's Brewery

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

This morning's fire at Murray's Brewery along Nelson's Bay Road has reportedly caused some damage to the business's cellar door and kitchen area.

The brewery itself, however, is in a different building and has been completely unaffected.

General Manager Jane Clack says it is still too early to say too much.

"The most important thing is that nobody was injured and the fire is under control.

"The brewing of our beer and the wholesale side of our business continues to operate as normal."

She says more information will arrive later on today.

"When our wonderful local police and and fire service have finished the work they need to do, we will have access to our property and update everybody later on today.

"Our focus is to reopen for trade as soon as possible."

Nelson Bay Road Safety Upgrade Starts Today

BY IAN CROUCH

 Motorists can expect delays along Nelson Bay Road from today.

Work is starting on safety improvements to the northbound lanes south of Marsh Road near Bobs Farm, with $800,000 being spent on new shoulders and resurfacing.

Work will be carried out between 7am and 5pm, while the resurfacing work will take pace at night.

Roads and Maritime Services says a 40 kilometre per hour speed zone will be in place, with the work expected to take about 8 weeks, weather permitting.