Driver charged after fatal Salamander Bay crash

newy.com.au – A 66-year-old man has been charged over a fatal two-vehicle crash at Salamander Bay in January that left a 77-year-old woman dead and five other people injured.

Emergency services were called to Nelson Bay Road about 7.25pm on Saturday 17 January 2026 after reports of a crash involving a Toyota RAV4 and a Subaru Forester. The female driver of the Toyota died at the scene.

Three passengers in the Toyota — two men aged 78 and 79, and a 76-year-old woman — were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition. The Subaru driver, 66, and his 60-year-old female passenger were also treated at the scene and taken to the same hospital in a stable condition.

Officers attached to Port Hunter Stephens Police District established a crime scene and the Crash Investigation Unit began an investigation. Following inquiries, police arrested the Subaru driver at Nelson Bay Police Station on Thursday 2 April 2026.

He was charged with 13 offences, including dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three counts of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, four counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle, and not keeping left of a dividing line.

The man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 1 June 2026. His licence was also suspended.