Elderly Man Rushed to JHH After Collision With Car

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

An elderly man has been taken to hospital after being hit by a car at Charlestown.

Shortly after 11 o'clock Thursday morning, emergency crews were called to the Frederick Street carpark at Charlestown Square to find three people had been injured in a collision involving four vehicles and a pedestrian.

NSW Ambulance reports the man, aged in his 80s, has been taken to the John Hunter Hospital with lower leg fractures.

Two other patients were treated at the scene by paramedics, one for a chest injury and a dislocated left shoulder while the third patient suffered a head injury.

A crime scene has been established.

Man Charged Over Fatal Hit and Run in New Lambton

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has been charged after he allegedly hit and killed a man with his car in New Lambton.

At about 2:45am yesterday morning a 44-year-old man driving a Holden Statesman on Railway Road hit a 54-year-old man who stepped out on to the roadway.

The driver allegedly failed to stop, and drove from the scene.

The 54-year-old pedestrian suffered critical injuries and was rushed to John Hunter Hospital where he sadly died a short time later.

A crime scene was established, and at about 8am yesterday police arrested the 44-year-old man allegedly responsible for the incident.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, fail to stop and render assistance after impact causing death, negligent driving occasioning death, fail to stop and assist after impact causing injury, and not give particulars to injured person.

He was granted conditional bail and will face Newcastle Local Court on January 25.

Police are still appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.

UPDATED: Another fatality on the Hunter's roads

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

Police now believe the man who tragically lost his life near Aberdeen this morning may have been hitch-hiking at the time.

Emergency services were called to the New England Highway 5km south of Aberdeen at about 4:40am where they found a man had sustained multiple injuries after being hit by a car.

Police say he looked to have been hitch-hiking between Aberdeen and Muswellbrook.

The 18-year-old female driver of the car which allegedly hit him was treated for shock, and underwent mandatory testing at Muswellbrook Hospital.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen the man before 4:30am today to contact Muswellbrook Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

EARLIER:

There's been another tragic road fatality in the Hunter this morning, the third in just three days.

A male pedestrian has been hit by a car on the New England Highway about 5 kilometres south of Aberdeen.

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 4:40am - one southbound lane of the highway is closed and traffic is expected to be disrupted while the scene is examined this morning.

The female driver of the vehicle remained at the scene to provide assistance.

She was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for mandatory testing.

It comes after a 17-year-old motorbike rider died in a crash at West Wallsend on Sunday, and a pedestrian struck and killed by a semi-trailer at Karuah on Monday morning.

UPDATE: Pedestrian killed near Karuah earlier today

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

Police are trying to piece together how a pedestrian was killed near Karuah earlier today.

Officers from Port Stephens Local Area Command were called to the northbound Tarean Road off ramp exit at Karuah following reports a pedestrian had been hit by a truck.

The truck driver was treated at the scene for shock, but sadly the male pedestrian in his 30s was killed.

EARLIER

Police were called to reports of a serious accident on the Pacific Highway at Karuah earlier this morning.

It's understood a pedestrian was hit by a truck at Tarean Road just before 6.30.

One of two southbound lanes on the highway is still closed.

The condition of the pedestrian is still not known.

Details to come.