Tuesday
Police say investigations into Monday’s two car crash south of Glen Innes continue.
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Emergency services were called to Ben Lomond Range on the New England Highway, 5km south of Glencoe on Monday, following reports a Holden Vectra and Mazda CX9 had collided.
A 35-year-old woman, who was the driver of Holden Vectra, was treated by paramedics before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition with head injuries.
She remains in hospital on Tuesday and is believed to be listed in a serious condition.
Her passenger, a 12-year-old girl, was also treated at the scene for a broken collar bone, before being taken to Armidale hospital.
The driver of the Mazda CX9, a 39-year-old man and his passenger, a 43-year-old woman, were assessed by paramedics for non-life threatening injuries.
The woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital with a fractured sternum and the man was treated for a foot injury.
Four boys, aged six, 10, 13, 15, were treated at the scene before being taken to Armidale hospital for a range of minor injuries, with the 13-year-old boy suffering a fractured pelvis.
Officers attached New England Local Area Command established a crime scene and commenced an investigation.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash or the vehicles in the moments prior to the impact to contact police.
Monday
A WOMAN was fighting for life on Monday night and seven others were taken to hospital after a two-car crash south of Glen Innes.
Police are investigating whether speed or wet weather contributed to the collision that shut the New England Highway at Ben Lomond Hill on Monday, shortly after midday.
A woman aged in her forties, who was behind the wheel of one of the vehicles, was trapped in the wreckage.
She was freed by rescue personnel and rushed via ambulance to Armidale Airport where the Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Tamworth was tasked with a doctor and paramedic on board.
The woman was assessed for internal injuries and was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle in a critical condition.
A young boy also suffered serious abdominal and head injuries and was rushed to Armidale Airport where he was met by a medical crew from the Newcastle-based rescue chopper.
He was also flown to the same hospital in a serious condition, along with his mother, believed to be aged in her forties.
A spokesperson said the mother was being treated for sternum and suspected internal injuries.
Five other patients including a teenage girl who suffered a shoulder injury were taken by ambulance to Armidale hospital in a stable condition.
New England Inspector Roger Best told Fairfax Media police were investigating whether the southbound car lost control.
Preliminary investigations suggest one of the vehicles tried to overtake a caravan and lost control in the overtaking lane and slid into the path of an oncoming car, colliding with the side of the second vehicle.
- New England Inspector Roger Best
“Preliminary investigations suggest one of the vehicles tried to overtake a caravan and lost control in the overtaking lane and slid into the path of an oncoming car, colliding with the side of the second vehicle,” he said.
“Speed, the weather and road conditions are all factors being investigated as to the cause.”
The crash, which shut the highway for more than three hours, saw a massive response from emergency services.
Four ambulances from Guyra, Glen Innes and Armidale were deployed to the crash scene along with RFS and VRA personnel.
The wet weather forced both Westpac Rescue Helicopters to land at Armidale Airport to collect patients.
The highway reopened shortly after 3pm with both wreckages towed from the scene.
Investigations into the crash are continuing.
UPDATE
Ambulance NSW have confirmed eight people have been treated at the scene by paramedics near Glencoe.
Four ambulances, including one from Guyra, one from Glen Innes and two from Armidale were deployed to the crash scene at Ben Lomond Hill, shortly after midday on Monday.
A spokesperson confirmed paramedics treated a 43-year-old woman for head and arm injuries.
She was taken by road to Armidale hospital in an unknown condition.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked from Tamworth to collect a 14-year-old boy.
He was initially treated for head injuries and taken by road ambulance to Guyra to meet the helicopter, who will also collect a second female patient.
Five other patients were transported by road ambulance to Armidale hospital with minor injuries.
Both wreckages have been towed to a car yard as part of the police investigation into the crash.
Emergency services cleared the debris on the road and re-opened the highway shortly after 3pm.
Investigations into the crash are continuing.
EARLIER
EMERGENCY services are on the scene of a serious two-car crash between Guyra and Glen Innes.
It’s believed three people have been seriously injured in the collision on the New England Highway on the Ben Lomond Hill.
Police, paramedics as well as the RFS and rescue crews are at the scene after a triple zero call shortly after midday.
Police have closed the New England Highway in both directions at Guyra and Ben Lomond.
Traffic is being diverted around the crash scene via Old Ben Lomond Rd.
The RMS says if you're heading south in a light vehicle, you're being diverted onto Old Ben Lomond Rd.
This road isn't suitable for heavy vehicles though - they're being parked on site.
One northbound lane is also closed.
The RMS is urging motorists to allow extra time and follow the directions of emergency services and traffic crews.
More to come.