Police are calling for drivers to take more personal responsibility and use better judgement after two fatal crashes on NSW roads overnight, NSW Police say.
Shortly after 12.20am today, emergency services were alerted to a crash on The Bucketts Way, Gloucester, approximately 500 metres north of Mograni Creek Road.
Police have been told a Holden Commodore station wagon travelling east left the road, went down an embankment and rolled several times.
The driver, a 23-year-old man died at the scene while his 24-year-old male passenger managed to crawl from the car and alert a passing motorist.
The injured man was conveyed from the scene in a stable condition and taken to John Hunter Hospital.
In a separate incident, about 10am, a 38-year-old male motorcycle rider was travelling north on Stoud Hill Road, Nooroo, near Dungog, when he attempted to overtake another motorcyclist.
The 38-year-old rider collided with a southbound dual cab utility.
He died at the scene.
The male rider of the second motorcycle was also knocked from his vehicle. He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital with a suspected fractured leg.
The two occupants of the utility were treated at the scene for shock and taken to Maitland Hospital for treatment. The male driver will also undergo mandatory blood and urine tests.
The NSW road toll for 2016 now stands at 157, 35 more than this time last year.
Assistant Commissioner John Hartley from the state’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Command says the increasing road toll is disappointing, with motorcyclist and pedestrian deaths up.
"Irresponsible road use and risk-taking has claimed the lives of two more people on our roads," Asst Commissioner Hartley said.
"Both incidents are on regional roads, and crash investigators are looking at speed being a factor."
"We are urging motorists to exercise greater caution and better judgement. Don’t assume you can ever drive too safely."
"These collisions have occurred in fine weather. It will present an even greater challenge on the road as the weather conditions become cooler and wetter during the winter months."
