A 21-year-old man has been charged following a fatal crash near Karangi, north-west of Coffs Harbour, which claimed the life of a 20-year-old woman and left two others injured.

Emergency services were called to Coramba Road at Karangi about 10.45pm on Sunday, 17 May, after a vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a power pole. Three occupants were trapped inside the wreckage when crews arrived.

A 20-year-old woman died at the scene. A second 20-year-old woman suffered leg and pelvic injuries, while a 16-year-old boy was also injured. Both were freed from the vehicle by emergency services and transported to Coffs Harbour Health Campus for treatment.

The driver, a 21-year-old man, was assessed at the scene and underwent mandatory testing at the hospital.

Officers from the Coffs-Clarence Police District, assisted by specialist investigators from the Crash Investigation Unit, launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Following inquiries, police arrested the driver at the hospital on Tuesday before taking him to Coffs Harbour Police Station.

He has been charged with:

• Dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous
• Dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous
• Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death
• Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm
• Take and drive conveyance without the owner’s consent

Police will allege the driver left the crash scene twice before emergency services arrived and failed to render assistance to the trapped occupants.

The man was refused bail and was scheduled to appear before Bail Division Court 1 today, Wednesday 20 May.