Teen Fatally Struck by School Bus

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A teenager has died after being hit by a school bus at Raymond Terrace.

Police say the 17-year-old was riding his bike along Mount Hall Road at about 8:30 Tuesday morning when he was struck by the bus as he crossed the intersection at Clyde Circuit.

Emergency services responded to the scene to find the boy trapped beneath the vehicle, which was carrying students at the time.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the boy died at the scene.

The 41-year-old male bus driver has been taken for mandatory testing.

Police inquiries into the incident are continuing.

24 Hour Speed Blitz on Hunter Roads

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police will be out in force over the next 24 hours targeting speeding on the Hunter's roads.

Across the state speeding is the highest contributing factor to fatal crashes - around 40 per cent of fatal crashes are due to speeding.

In the last 12 months 386 lives have been lost on NSW roads and there have been several in the last month in the Hunter.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the best way to save lives on our roads is for drivers to simply take responsibility and slow down.

'We're appealing to all road users, particularly in the lead up to the summer months and holiday periods to take personal responsibility for their road use, think of families, loved ones, and mostly importantly, other road users."

'Those that run the risk today r any other day will be penalised or put before the courts, all in the hope that we can change driver behaviour and save lives on NSW roads," said Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith.

The one day blitz will see all available police out and about targeting drivers who choose to speed.

One Teen Dead, Another Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Crash at Jerrys Plains

BY IAN CROUCH

Investigations are continuing into a crash which claimed the life of a teenage motorbike rider at Jerrys Plains.

Police say two 17-year-old boys were riding their motorbikes along Commission Road at about 2.30pm on Sunday when they crashed head-on into a Nissan Patrol as it rounded a bend.

One of the teens died at the scene while the other suffered fractures to his skull, arm and lower legs, as well as internal injuries.

He was flown to John Hunter Hospital by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter where he remains in a serious condition.

The 59-year-old driver of the Nissan was taken to Singleton Hospital for mandatory tests.

Officers from Hunter Valley Local Area Command attended the scene and commenced inquiries.

Investigations continue however no charges are expected to be laid.

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.

Two tragically killed north of Gloucester

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Two people who died in a truck accident north of Gloucester this morning are yet to be identified.

Emergency services were called to Thunderbolts Way at Giro at around 4:30am after a southbound truck ran off the road and crashed.

Police say the two people were travelling in the truck at the time of the crash.

Police are yet to confirm what the truck was carrying.

Charges laid after 19-year-old fatally killed on the Central Coast

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The three people arrested yesterday at West Wallsend and Wyee in relation to the alleged shooting of a 19-year-old man on the Central Coast have now been charged.

The 48-year-old man arrested on George Booth Drive at Sea Hampton during a car stop was taken to Toronto Police Station and has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Meanwhile the two others a 24-year-old and a 17-year-old have also been charged, thought to allegedly be his children, the pair have both been charged with murder along with other offences.

All three will face court today.

It comes after emergency services were called to Warner Avenue in Wyong following reports of shoots being fired at 12:30pm on Monday.

A 19-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, but died at the scene. Another man, aged 28, was treated for a grazes to his hand and shoulder at the scene.

Quad Bike roundtable today in a bid to end fatalities

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI and JESSICA ROUSE

With more than thirty quad bike deaths in the state since 2011 including the death of a 60-year-old man in the Upper Hunter earlier this year, NSW Labor has decided to convene a roundtable on quad bike safety.

The roundtable taking place today will see stakeholders get together to look at a range of strategies including age restrictions, to try and prevent further quad bike deaths. It also comes after a recent examination of reforms in Queensland.

 Representatives at the roundtable include The Royal Australian College of Surgeons, NSW Farmers Association, Country Women's Association, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and Quad Safe Australia.

Shadow Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Yasmin Catley says we've already seen too many quad bike deaths this year alone. 

"It's time that we bring together all of the stakeholders to address the problems of accidents and then with the use of quad bikes so we're bringing all of the stakeholders together to have that discussion so that we can talk about coming up with some resolutions that will address the issues of death and safety on quad bikes."

She also said the government had been invited to attend, but they declined. She believes the best and only way to come to a solution is a joint effort, but it won't work if only one side comes to the party.

"The government have been invited but unfortunately they have declined to come and it's really quite disappointing I have to say. This is something that the Labor Party want to have a bipartisan approach on and of course, that should be the case because when we're addressing any tragedy like this you need to have a bipartisan approach," said Yasmin Catley.

Fatal collision near Scone

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Queensland woman has tragically lost her life in a head-on collision near Scone this morning.

At about 7:30am, a Hyundai collided with a Mercedes travelling in opposite directions along the New England Highway.

The 68-year old woman and the 51-year old female driver of the Mercedes were both trapped and had to be freed by emergency services.

The driver of the Hyundai was taken to hospital with critical injuries but died a short time later.

A 5-year-old girl, the passenger in the same car also sustained serious injuries.

Police understand the young girl and the woman who tragically lost her life are members of the same family. Other family members were travelling in a separate car at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Mercedes was initially taken to Scone Hospital but is now being transported to the John Hunter Hospital by the Newcastle based Westpac Rescue Helicopter with spinal and leg injuries - she's in a stable condition.

Inquiries are continuing and the New England Highway has reopened under stop/slow traffic conditions.