Woman dead and unborn child lost in Newcastle crash as police search for two teenagers who fled the scene
Authorities say the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, after officers spotted a white Holden Commodore being driven in an allegedly dangerous manner near North Lambton.
The vehicle was fitted with fake number plates and was carrying four teenagers at the time.
Although initially sighted by highway patrol around 2.30am, police did not engage in a pursuit due to safety concerns.
A short time later, an officer pulled up behind the Commodore at a set of traffic lights and activated the siren.
The driver is said to have responded by accelerating at speed and crossing onto the wrong side of the road.
The vehicle was then involved in a head-on collision with another car.
A 55-year-old woman visiting from India, who was a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her 28-year-old daughter, who was 25 weeks pregnant, sustained serious injuries to her legs.
Police later confirmed her unborn baby could not be saved.
The driver of the Holden and one other occupant fled the area before emergency services arrived.
Witnesses reported seeing a young male and female running from the scene.
Two teenage girls, aged 15 and 17, who were also in the car, were treated by paramedics and transported to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition, where they remain under police guard.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan confirmed that police are searching for the 19-year-old alleged driver and a 17-year-old girl, believed to have been sitting in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash.
A critical incident has been declared, and an independent investigation is now being led by officers from the Hunter Valley Police District to examine the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
Authorities are urging anyone with dashcam footage or information relevant to the incident to come forward.
The tragedy comes amid a broader national road safety crisis.
According to the Australian Automobile Association, up to May 31, 2025, it has been reported to be the deadliest on Australian roads since 2010, with 1,337 fatalities recorded - a 4.8 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
In New South Wales alone, six people and an unborn baby have died on the roads since Friday.
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