Six people and an unborn baby die in horror spate of accidents on NSW roads
There were three fatal accidents in the Hunter region alone, including a head-on collision that killed a 55-year-old woman and the unborn baby of the 28-year-old who was driving the car she was in.
New South Wales Police are still searching for a 19-year-old man and a female passenger, who allegedly ran from the scene in the Newcastle suburb of North Lambton early on Sunday.
On Sunday night, a 98-year-old man died after he was hit by a car while crossing the street at Awaba, near Lake Macquarie.
Police said the 49-year-old male driver was not believed to be speeding or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
At nearby Fennel Bay, a 38-year-old woman died early on Monday when her car collided with another vehicle and crashed through a fence and hit a tree.
NSW Police Assistant Acting Commissioner Paul Dunston said it had been "a horrible weekend on our roads in Newcastle".
He said a critical incident investigation would examine the actions of police who were monitoring the vehicle involved in the North Lambton tragedy.
NSW Police issued a statement saying police had seen a vehicle being driven dangerously, but did not start a pursuit due to safety concerns.
On Friday, a 46-year-old truck driver died after his vehicle veered off Bangalow Road and smashed into a tree at Clunes, near Lismore.
On the same day, a 56-year-old man died when the car he was a passenger in rolled at Bangheet, about 90 kilometres east of Moree.
The spate of fatal crashes continued on Saturday, when a man in his 40s died when the car he was in rolled at Tura Beach, about 30km south-east of Bega, on the state's south coast.
Assistant Acting Commissioner Dunston said the community could be assured that police were out and enforcing road rules.
"We are out doing our best to minimise the road toll," he said.
The Australian Automobile Association has found that the year up until May 31, 2025, was the country's deadliest since 2010.
In the past year, 1,337 people have died on Australian roads, which was a 4.8 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
Australasian College of Road Safety chief executive Ingrid Johnson said many factors have contributed to the rise, including speeding.
"That is a consistent increase that we haven't seen since the 1970s," she said.
Dr Johnson said the government should abolish mobile speed camera warning signs to reduce speeding.
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ABC News
33 minutes ago
- ABC News
Tony Burke had a busy week with a cyber hack, arts backpedal and immigration detention debate
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News.com.au
39 minutes ago
- News.com.au
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News.com.au
39 minutes ago
- News.com.au
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