Pampoolah, Pacific Hwy: Crash sees female driver, 26, in critical condition, male passenger dead

A male passenger has died and a 26-year-old female driver has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition following a crash on the Mid-North Coast.

A horrifying crash on the state’s Mid-North Coast has left a male passenger dead and a female driver airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

Emergency services shut the Pacific Highway in both directions on the eve of the long weekend, as police and paramedics rushed to the scene on the Pacific Highway at Pampoolah around 1pm on Friday.

The site of the crash, near Taree.

A NSW Police source told The Mid-North Coast News traffic surrounding the incident was so bad that “responding officers were having to park on the side of the road and walk to the scene of the crash”.

“It is understood the driver, a 26-year-old woman, was thrown from the car as a result of the incident,” the police source said.

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed the male passenger of the vehicle had died at the scene.

A man is dead and a woman critically injured after a single vehicle crash on the Pacific Highway near Taree on Friday afternoon.

“He is yet to be formally identified,” she said. “The driver, a 26-year-old woman, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

“Officers from Manning-Great Lakes Police District established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit.”

The scene of a fatal crash on the Pacific Highway on the state's Mid-North Coast in the town of Pampoolah. Picture: Gemma Ferguson

Three doctors who were also travelling along the Pacific Highway were first to respond, according to a witness, and kept the woman comfortable as they waited for police and paramedics.

The witness also said the car was travelling at speeds above 150km / hour in the moments before the crash.

Live Traffic NSW confirmed all northbound lanes approaching Pampoolah Rd were closed just before 1pm on September 30.

The scene of a fatal crash on the Pacific Highway on the state's Mid-North Coast in the town of Pampoolah. Picture: Gemma Ferguson

“Avoid the area, use an alternative route and allow extra travel time,” they advised.

Northbound traffic has since been diverted into Manning River Dr to Victoria St, Crescent Ave, Chatham Ave, Manning River Dr, Main St and Princes St to re-join the highway at Cundletown.

A man is dead and a woman critically injured after a single vehicle crash on the Pacific Highway near Taree on Friday afternoon.

A man is dead and a woman critically injured after a single vehicle crash on the Pacific Highway near Taree on Friday afternoon.

Heavy vehicles are being diverted at Manning River Dr to Commerce St, Wingham Rd, Muldoon St, Cowper St, Manning River Dr, Main St and Princes St to re-join the highway at Cundletown.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway and anyone who may have dashcam vision or information is urged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.