Accident near Mount Arthur

THE Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been called to a two car accident near Mount Arthur coal mine, which occurred shortly before 6:30pm.

UPDATE: 8:15pm: Four ambulance and two Westpac Rescue Helicopters are on scene at Thomas Mitchell Drive in Muswellbrook treating the occupants of two cars. Some patients were initially trapped, but all are now free of the vehicles. The teams are treating a number of patients including two with serious injuries and two with minor injuries.

UPDATE: 9pm: NSW Ambulance have confirmed four people in one of the cars (Nissan Pulsar) have been injured including:

• a 20 year old female who sustained chest and abdomen injuries and was transported by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to the John Hunter Hospital, in Newcastle in a critical condition;
• a women in her 60s who sustained minor injuries and was transported by road ambulance to the John Hunter Hospital;
• a 10 year old girl sustained severe injuries, including pelvic injuries who is in a serious condition and has been taken to the John Hunter Hospital, and
• a seven week old baby boy, who sustained minor injuries and has also been transported to the John Hunter Hospital.

UPDATE: 7am Thursday: Police have confirmed a 28 year old man died at the scene of the accident on Thomas Mitchell Drive yesterday. The man was the driver and sole occupant of a Hyundai. Police are investigating the cause of the crash and a report will be made to the coroner.