Coffs Harbour crash leaves man in hospital, homes without power

Residents who live on busy west Coffs road say something should be done after speeding drivers and an increase in trucks using the street creates a dangerous mix.

Residents have described Mackays Road as increasingly busy and popular with hoons after a crash almost destroyed a power pole and left a man in hospital.

The man, believed to be in his 70s, suffered head, leg and chest injuries after the car he was driving and a truck collided at a notorious intersection in west Coffs Harbour.

The crash occurred at the corner of Mackays Road and Don Paterson Drive, sending the car careening into a telegraph pole.

A resident said the power pole on Mackays Road “bent over” after a car crashed into it. Picture: Tim Jarrett

After hearing the initial impact, resident Chris Drady said he looked out and saw the power pole “bend over and flip back up again” as sparks and smoke rose up before the power eventually cut out.

“The old fella was pretty banged up in there,” he said.

A number of residents said the stretch of Mackays road was notorious for speeding drivers and Mr Drady agreed, adding that there had been a big increase in traffic since he bought his property five years ago.

He also said there were more trucks on the road servicing development in the area and a nearby quarry.

Mackays Road resident Chris Drady says something needs to be done to slow down drivers on the busy street. In the background, Essential Energy staff work to fix a broken power pole which was impacted by a crash. Picture: Tim Jarrett

“It’s gone berserk since I bought the place,” he said.

“The people drive crazy down here,”

Mr Drady wasn’t alone in the view that something needed to be done to reduce the risk of more crashes, with other residents explaining the stretch of road became a magnet for speeding drivers – particularly when it rained.

One resident described it as “hoonsville”.

“I am not sure if a roundabout would solve the problem or not but I think they have to slow the people down somehow,” Mr Drady said.

Essential Energy were called to the scene to restore power to about 3600 residents in the area.

Essential Energy operations manager Matt Reedy said a majority of the residents had their power restored by 1.15pm.

“Crews will continue with the necessary repairs at the busy intersection as quickly as safety will allow, to get the lights back on for 102 customers who will remain without power for the majority of the afternoon,” he said.