A driver has been charged after a woman died when a car left the road and struck a power pole 10km north-west of Coffs Harbour earlier this week.
Emergency services were called to Coramba Road at Karangi, about 10.45pm on Sunday (17 May 2026), and found three occupants trapped.
One occupant – a 20-year-old woman – died at the scene.
The two other trapped occupants – a 20-year-old woman who suffered leg and pelvic injuries and a 16-year-old boy – were freed by emergency services and taken Coffs Harbour Health Campus for treatment.
The driver – a 21-year-old man – was assessed at the scene and underwent mandatory testing at the same hospital.
Officers attached to Coffs Clarence Police District established a crime scene with specialists investigators from the Crash Investigation Unit (CIU) commencing inquiries into the incident.
Following inquiries, the driver was arrested at the hospital before being taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station, yesterday (Tuesday 19 May 2026).
He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous, dangerous driving occasion grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous, fail to stop & assist after vehicle impact causing death, fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm and take & drive conveyance without consent of owner.
Police will allege in court the driver left the crash scene twice prior to the arrival of emergency services and did not render aid to the trapped occupants of the car.
The 21-year-old was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 1 today (Wednesday 20 May 2026).
