A crash that sent a vehicle careening through a fence and into the front yard of a New Lambton property on Saturday afternoon has sparked a considerable emergency services response as police and multiple ambulance units rushed to the scene just before 5pm.
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Three adults and five children have been hospitalised, a spokesperson for the NSW Ambulance said, though all were said to be in a stable condition. An adult woman had suffered a suspected fractured wrist and a man was suffering back pain, the Ambulance source said, while the children were taken for precautionary assessment.
NSW Police cleared the scene just before 6pm, where it appeared the vehicles had collided at the intersection of Hobart and Wallarah streets in New Lambton. One vehicle, with damage to its side panels, was extracted from the front yard of a nearby property, where it had crashed through a fence. The other vehicle, with significant damage to its front, was cleared from the roadway.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene as Highway Patrol officers directed traffic around the crash site.
The crash follows four deaths on state roads over the holiday period since Friday, December 20, the most recent incidence of which claimed the life of a motorcycle rider near Port Macquarie around 12.30pm on Saturday, December 28.
The rider, a man in his late 60s, was killed when his motorcycle collided with a Toyota Landcruiser in the westbound lanes of the Oxley Highway about 47 kilometres outside Port Macquarie, police said. The other driver was uninjured and was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
Police have urged travellers, particularly over the busy holiday period, to drive safely - to avoid driving while tired, especially on long trips - and warned that officers would be enforcing all road-related legislation, including speeding, drink- and drug-driving, distractions, driver fatigue, and any dangerous driving behaviours which put the safety of road users at risk.
"Traditionally, this is the busiest time of year on NSW roads and police will be out in force across the state to encourage compliance with the road rules."
