5 Car Pile-Up Closes Tourle Street Mayfield West

BY IAN CROUCH

Tourle Street, Mayfield West has been re-opened to traffic after a 5 car pile up.

Police say four cars were stopped at roadworks at about 10.45pm on Thursday night when a truck crashed heavily into the last car stopped in the line-up.

This created a concertina affect, with the cars in front colliding nose-to-tail.

The rear car was badly damaged, however the driver escaped with only minor injuries and was taken to hospital for observation.

It's expected the truck driver will be charged over the incident.

Tourle Street was closed for almost three hours as a result of the crash.

Man who killed woman in a tragic accident faced court for the first time

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The man who stands accused of causing the death of a 65-year-old woman in a crash at Mayfield in July has faced Newcastle Court for the first time.

Andrew Wayne is accused of allegedly running a red light on Industrial Drive in his Ford Territory and as a result slamming into a Holden Astra turning right onto Tourle Street killing Gweneth Downey.

He didn't enter any pleas and remains on bail with the condition of not getting behind the wheel of a car.

The matter returns to court next Wednesday.

Image abc.net.au

UPDATE: Officer injured and man arrested after high speed chase through Port Stephens

BY JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

A police officer has been treated for minor injuries after a police pursuit through Port Stephens this morning.

At about 9:15am police attempted to stop a Holden sedan in Medowie in relation to ongoing inquiries into a man on outstanding warrants. When police exited their car, the Holden was thrown into reverse striking one officer causing minor injuries.

The officer tried to grab the driver but failed as the driver accelerated away.

A police pursuit was initiated but terminated a short time later near Williamtwon due to dangerous driving, but it wasn't long until it was picked up again in Mayfield. The pursuit didn't get too far though, with the car breaking down at the corner of Tourle Street and Industrial Drive at Mayfield.

The driver ran from the scene while two passengers - a 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old girl - were arrested. Meanwhile, the driver allegedly entered the cab of a truck and assaulted the driver before he was pulled out by local police assisted by the Police Dog Unit.

The 19-year-old was arrested and then taken to the Mater Hospital for minor injuries. He then joined the other two passengers at Waratah Police Station.

The 17 and 20-year old's were later released without charge, and the 19-year-old is expected to be charged with a number of outstanding warrants and other offences.

EARLIER:

BY IAN CROUCH

A high speed pursuit through Port Stephens has ended with the arrest of three men at Mayfield.

Patrolling police noticed a blue Commodore sedan at Raymond Terrace just before 9.30am - it's alleged one of the occupants is wanted on several outstanding arrest warrants.

Officers gave chase when the vehicle refused to stop, with the pursuit heading through Medowie and back to Newcastle at speeds reaching up to 140 kilometres per hour in a 100km zone.

The car broke down at the corner of Tourle Street and Industrial Drive and the three occupants were arrested after a short foot pursuit involving the police dog.

They are now assisting police with their inquiries at Waratah Police Station.

Man charged over fatal crash in Mayfield

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Newcastle Local Court in August after he was charged over the fatal crash on Industrial Drive last Monday.

Just before 11:30am (Monday 24 July 2017), emergency services were called to the intersection of Industrial Drive and Tourle Street in Mayfield following reports a Holden Astra and a Ford Territory had collided.

A 65-year-old woman, the passenger in the Holden tragically died at the scene while both the driver of the Holden and the Ford were taken to John Hunter Hospital in stable conditions for further treatment.

Following investigations from the Newcastle Crash Investigation Unit the 31-year-old driver of the Ford attended Maitland Police Station on Saturday (29 July 2017) where he was arrested.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death; cause bodily harm by misconduct; negligent driving occasioning death; negligent driving; and proceed through red traffic light.

He was conditionally bailed to appear in court on Thursday 24th August 2017.

Scene of the accident last Monday Image Tyson Cottrill NBN News

Investigations continue after fatal accident on Industrial Drive

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Crash Investigation Unit officers have commenced an investigation into the circumstances which led to the tragic death of a woman in a two-car accident on Industrial Drive yesterday morning.

Just before 11:30am (Monday 24th July 2017), emergency services were called to the corner of Industrial Drive and Tourle Street Mayfield after reports a Holden Astra and a Ford Territory had collided.

The driver of the Holden, a 66-year-old man was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition and his passenger, a woman in her 60s from Medowie, died at the scene.

The driver of the Ford, a 31-year-old man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition. He underwent mandatory blood and urine testing.

Initial investigations suggest the Holden was turning right from Industrial Drive onto Tourle Street at about 11:30 yesterday morning when it was struck by the Ford.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Tourle Street Bridge works

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Motorists heading over the Tourle Street Bridge from Kooragang Island will be met with changed traffic conditions while work on the bridge duplication continues.

There are diversions in place with traffic heading along Cormorant Road from Egret Street being diverted onto a newly built section of road to allow work to be carried out on the existing road.

From Monday if you're travelling along Tourle Street you'll be diverted onto a new section of road as well.

The $103 million bridge and road duplication is due for completion by late 2018.

Tourle Street bridge taking shape

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Tourle Street and Cormorant Road duplication at Koorangang is well and truly underway after a major milestone was met with the installation of all bridge piles.

The project was announced in April 2016, with work starting a month later and is being funded by both Federal and State governments aiming to improve traffic flow which often results in bottleneck conditions.

Work is expected to be completed by the second half of 2018 and will feature 3.8 kilometres of road wich will be duplicated between Industrial drive, Mayfield West and Egret Street at Kooragang, providing two lanes in each direction along with a second Tourle Street Bridge.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Catherine Cusack said it's great news for long-suffering motorists.

"For those motorists at the moment who are having to endure all the restrictions that all the road works are placing on the roads.

I want to reassure them that significant progress has been made, and we are really looking forward to this project finishing on budget and on time next year," Ms Cusack said.

Current condition of the project on the Tourle Street Bridge.

Tourle Street Bridge Duplication In Doubt

The Tourle Street Bridge duplication may not go ahead under the new government.

The $52 million project was announced a month ago by former Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese.

 

The plan involved duplicating the current Tourle Street Bridge and upgrading a section of the bridge near Cormorant Road on Kooragang Island.

At the time the Liberal party refused to match Labor's commitment.

Newly elected Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, said she will push the Liberal government to match Labor's commitment.

"It will be my role and the role of all the other Labor MP's in the region to get Mr Abbott and his Liberal government to make sure that they honour Labor's commitment," Mrs Claydon said.