The accident that caused the New England Highway in Aberdeen to be closed for three hours last Wednesday has sparked a new concern for the Upper Hunter Shire mayor who has promised to lobby the government and get something done about the notorious corner.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The incident occurred on the corner between the Moray Street and Segenhoe Street turnoffs at about 2.20pm on January 14.
The crash was between a silver Aldi being driven by a 32-year-old male from Ivanhoe and a Kenworth B Double being driven by a 50-year-old Albion Park man.
The Aldi was travelling north at about 50km/hr when it veered to the right colliding with the offside cabin area of the oncoming truck, causing it to jack knife to the right side and mount the gutter.
The Aldi spun and came to rest near the gutter sustaining extensive damage to the driver side of the car.
Both drivers escaped without severe injury and police, Ambulance NSW and Fire and Rescue NSW Aberdeen brigade attended the scene.
The driver of the Aldi was conveyed to Muswellbrook District Health Service for observations and the truck was eventually towed from the scene.
A large amount of diesel leaked from the truck onto the road, which was cleaned up by Fire and Rescue before re-opening the highway.
Police allege the Aldi driver claimed to have either blacked out or fallen asleep.
Regardless of the cause of the accident, Upper Hunter Shire mayor Michael Johnsen has stressed his concern about the particular spot as there have been accidents there in the past.
Cr Johnsen took the Member for Upper Hunter George Souris to the site last Thursday and expressed the need to do something about it.
“It is a significant concern to the council and it will be a high priority we will raise at our regular meetings with the Roads and Maritime Services,” he said.
“This particular section of road has bad camber and the angle needs to be addressed with a slight straightening of the bend, which is possible as there is plenty of public land space to do this.
“It is lucky no one was seriously injured last week, but something needs to be done.”