New England Highway crashes claim lives of two women

Two women have died following separate vehicle accidents on the New England Highway in New South Wales.

In the first incident, emergency services responded to a crash at Kankool on Sunday, October 18. A woman in her 60s fell from a trike motorcycle after it left the roadway. Despite being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and flown to John Hunter Hospital in critical condition, she passed away that night.

In a second, separate incident at Moonbi, an elderly woman in her 80s died at Tamworth Hospital on October 18. Her death occurred five days after a utility vehicle left the road and struck a rock wall on Tuesday, October 13. The driver, a man also in his 80s, was treated in the hospital but has since been released.

Police are investigating both accidents and preparing reports for the coroner. Authorities have appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward. So far this year, 272 people have been killed on roads in New South Wales.