NSW police charge man over fatal fail to stop crash at Maitland

A man has been charged after a pedestrian was killed in an alleged fail to stop crash at Maitland last month.

About 11.30pm on Saturday 30 November 2019, emergency services were called to Flat Road, near the intersection of Paterson Road, Bolwarra, following reports of a crash.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and found a male pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle.

The 62-year-old man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

The vehicle allegedly left the crash scene and was last seen travelling south on Paterson Road.

A short time later, police responding to the collision saw a Mazda BT50 utility travelling south on Belmore Road at Lorn.

Officers from the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver allegedly failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated.

The low-speed pursuit through local streets ended on High Street after the vehicle mounted the footpath.

The 70-year-old driver underwent a roadside breath test, allegedly returning a positive reading.

He was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.108.

The man was charged with drive with middle range PCA and police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly.

Following further investigations, a 70-year-old man attended Ryde Police Station where he was arrested.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – DUI, dangerous driving occasioning death – manner dangerous, negligent driving cause death, fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death (Crimes Act) and fail to stop and assist after impact causing death (Road Transport Act).

He was refused bail and is due to appear before Burwood Local Court on Monday 9 December 2019.

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