Teen charged after second rider dies from horse float crash injuries

by · Newcastle Herald

An 18-year-old woman has been charged with multiple offences, including two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, after a second motorcyclist died in hospital following a crash near Booral last month.

Two riders have now died as a result of an accident on The Buckets Way involving a ute towing a horse float.

A 72-year-old man, who was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition after the September 20 crash on The Bucketts Way, died on Saturday, police said.

The other rider, a 33-year-old man, died at the scene.

Police allege a utility towing a horse float flipped and rolled before crashing into two motorcycles near Gunns Gully Road, about 30 kilometres north-west of Nelson Bay, about 10.20am.

The 18-year-old driver was assessed by paramedics at the scene and did not need further treatment.

The horse in the float was uninjured.

She was taken to Stroud Police Station, where police say she returned a breath analysis reading of 0.053. She was then taken to Dungog Hospital for mandatory testing.

Police established a crime scene and officers from the Crash Investigation Unit began an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Following those inquiries, and the advisory of the second man's death, the woman was charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, two counts of negligent driving occasioning death, and one count of negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm).

She was also charged with driving with a low-range prohibited concentration of alcohol and failing to comply with licence conditions.

The woman was issued with a court attendance notice to appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court on November 23.

The Herald reported on September 21 that police confirmed the teenager was "no longer in custody" while investigations continued. At that time, the older rider remained in hospital in a serious condition, according to Hunter New England Local Health District.

The crash closed The Bucketts Way for several hours and prompted a major multi-agency emergency response, including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.