The new year started tragically with the death of a woman in Yagoona, the death of a man near Newcastle, and the death of a man near Grafton in separate incidents on New Years morning, bringing the number of lives lost during Operation Safe Arrival to 28.
Operation Safe Arrival, the State’s Christmas and New Year road safety campaign, started at 12.01am on Friday 15 December, and finished at 11.59pm, Monday 1 January 2018 and police are disappointed with the results of Operation Safe Arrival after 28 were killed during the 18-day operation.
Just after 12.15am Monday, January 1 a female passenger died after the car she was in hit a parked car on Brunker Road, Yagoona. She is yet to be formally identified. The driver was taken to Liverpool Hospital with minor injuries and will undergo blood and urine analysis.
About 2.40am, a 54-year-old man died after he was struck by a car on Railway Road, New Lambton. A short time later a man was arrested and is currently assisting with inquiries.
About 9.15am, police were called to Clarence Way, Copmanhust, after a vehicle left the roadway and rolled onto its roof. The driver a 75-year-old man died at the scene.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, Commander of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said people need to take responsibility every time they get into a car this year.
‘The year has started badly on NSW roads, after three people died in separate crashes in the early hours of the morning.
‘We have now lost 28 lives during Operation Safe Arrival and the holiday period has been nothing short of a tragedy for everyone involved.’
Disappointment often turned into frustration, as police continued to see drivers put themselves and other road user’s lives at risk through dangerous decisions, despite numerous warnings and an increased police presence on the roads.
‘We will continue to target those drivers who are putting everyone at risk; but in order to save lives, the entire community needs to think differently when it comes to road safety,’ continued Assistant Commissioner Corboy.
‘Every time you get in a car, whether you are a driver or passenger, take responsibility and make sure others around you are as well.’
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