NSW: Five die on roads in horror start to Christmas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-1999
NSW: Five die on roads in horror start to Christmas

SYDNEY, Dec 24 AAP - New South Wales has had a horror start to the festive season with
five road deaths in the first 24 hours.

Within hours of police launching Operation Safe Arrival in a bid to cut the traditionally
high Christams road toll, two men and a woman died in a head-on collision north of Newcastle
last night.

The accident occurred about 9.15pm (AEDT) on the Tilligerry Creek Bridge at Salt Ash.

The three were travelling in a sedan which crossed to the wrong side of the road into
the path of another vehicle, police said.

Three passengers in the other sedan airlifted to Newcastle's John Hunter and Mater
hospitals are all reeported to be in a stable condition.

Police said speed was believed to have contributed to the crash.

Also late yesterday, a 26-year-old Swansea motorcyclist was killed in a collision on
the Pacific Highway at Blacksmiths, north of Sydney.

Police said when his motorcycle and a station wagon collided, the rider was engulfed
in flames and died at the scene.

And a 17-year-old girl died in Sydney's Royal North Shore hospital yesterday after
a car accident on the central coast on Wednesday.

Traffic services commander Ron Sorrenson said driving offences increased during the
Christmas holiday exodus.

"This time of year is particularly bad on the roads because of the increased traffic
volumes and irresponsible driver behaviour," he said yesterday.

From today, drivers caught exceeding speed limits will lose double demerit points while
other traffic offences such as failing to wear a seatbelt, will attract an extra point
deduction.

More highway patrol police have been rostered on as part of the annual Operation Safe
Arrival campaign which runs until January 7.

Last year's Christmas road toll in NSW was 28, Victoria 15, Queensland 9, South Australia
5, Western Australia 9, Tasmania 4, Northern Territory 1 and the ACT 2.

AAP sal/jd/it

KEYWORD: TOLL NSW LEAD

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