A tragic accident claimed the life of a teenage boy in the Hunter Valley late Friday night. Around 10:45 pm on 6 July 2024, emergency services responded to a single-vehicle crash on Lemon Tree Passage Road in Salt Ash.
Upon arrival, officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District discovered a white Ford Falcon sedan with five occupants, aged between 14 and 17, which had veered off the road and collided with a tree.
Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance Paramedics and first responders, a 16-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital. Three other passengers, aged 14 and two 17-year-olds, were transported to John Hunter Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The 17-year-old driver underwent a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was subsequently taken to the hospital for mandatory testing.
A crime scene has been established, and investigations into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information, CCTV, or dashcam footage related to the incident to contact the Crash Investigation Unit or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
