Scone fatal: Triple tragedy and a boy’s long wait for rescue

It was the kind of drive real estate agent Adam O’regan had done hundreds of times before. But one wrong move led to a crash that killed three men and left five-year-old Hugh Christie injured.

• Scone fatal: Boy, 5, sole survivor in Hunter Valley crash

A GRIEF-STRICKEN family reeling from the deaths of both a father and grandfather in a twisted car wreck is now focusing on their five-year-old boy who miraculously survived the terrifying ordeal with just a broken nose and arm.

Paul Christie.

Young Hugh Christie was last night recovering in a Newcastle hospital from the horror four-wheel-drive crash that tragically killed his father Paul, 42, and grandfather, Bill, 75, on the remote property outside Scone on Monday and left him trapped for five hours.

The crash also killed Hunter Valley real estate agent Adam O’Regan, believed to have been behind the wheel when the vehicle lost control.

Hugh’s grandmother Wendy Christie told The Daily Telegraph from her Gold Coast home last night that the family had lost two “much-loved” men who were “outstanding family and community members”.

“The family is now concentrating on the recovery our little five-year-old boy,” she said.

The cries of Mrs Christie’s grandson could not be heard from the bottom of the ravine, where the vehicle had come to rest after rolling 400m down a steep embankment.

Bill Christie.

Adam O'Regan.

Police believe Mr O’Regan was trying to turn around on a track on the remote 280ha “Derwent” property at Gundy, outside Scone, when his four-wheel-drive lost traction in treacherous conditions.

Mr O’Regan was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene, along with the two Christie men to whom he was showing the property.

The car plunged down an embankment. Picture: Peter Lorimer.Picture by Peter Lorimer.

It is believed Paul Christie survived the inital crash, crawling over to his son before succumbing to his injuries. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

The bodies of Bill and Paul were found side-by-side at the scene, a short distance from the wreck.

Hunter Valley Police Acting Superintendent Guy Guiana said it appeared Bill survived the initial crash and managed to crawl over to his son before succumbing to his injuries.

Miraculously, Hugh suffered only his two fractures and last night remained in a stable condition in John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. Police believe he attempted to use a mobile phone to call for help.

The Gundy property where the fatal crash took place. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Police at the Hunter Valley property where three people died in a crash. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Mrs Christie said her heart went out to the O’Regan family and thanked “all those involved in the difficult recovery operation”.

Paul, who lived in Balmain with wife Linda, Hugh and daughter Hattie, was the director of a financial planning business.

The crash also sent shockwaves through Scone, where Mr O’Regan was a well-respected and much-loved member of the community.

The crash occurred in the NSW Hunter Valley on a property at Gundy.