Accident Closes New England Highway At Ravensworth

BY IAN CROUCH

Traffic is slowly getting back to normal following a two car smash at Ravensworth.

The accident happened on the New England Highway just before 5.00am on Tuesday.

A 21-year-old man was taken by road ambulance to Singleton Hospital with a minor foot injury.

The highway was blocked in both directions for more than an hour but the accident scene is now cleared, although there's still heavy traffic in the area.

Man Dies at Hunter Valley Coal Mine

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A contractor has tragically died at a coal mine in the Hunter Valley.

Police have confirmed the 39-year-old who was employed as a dump truck driver at the Glendell Coal Mine in Ravensworth, was found in his truck shortly after 1pm yesterday.

He died of a massive heart attack while behind the wheel of the "wobbly" articulated truck.

The coal mine's emergency response team rushed to the man's aid and attempted to resusitate him for some time until an ambulance from Singleton arrived.

Paramedics spent 10 minutes on the 39-year-old but he couldn't be resusitated.

CFMEU District President Peter Jordan said the man was undertaking top soil work in an isolated part of the mine which is being rehabilitated.

The company he was contracted by was a small Singleton company caleed NJR Excavations.

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.