Relative sees woman die in crash on Golden Highway at Sandy Hollow

Police are investigating a series of split-second decisions which ended in the death of a young woman in a multi-vehicle crash at Sandy Hollow, also involving a relative in another vehicle.

A woman, aged in her 20s, died in a crash on the Golden Highway near Sandy Hollow on January 9, 2022. Picture: Google Maps.

Crash experts are investigating whether a dead kangaroo may have prompted a series of split-second decisions which ended in the horrific death of a young woman in a multi-vehicle crash which also involved a truck being driven by one of her close relatives.

Police are also searching for the driver of a mystery small grey car after witnesses reported seeing it slow down on the Golden Highway near Sandy Hollow, in the Hunter Valley, because of the animal carcass in the middle of the road.

Crash investigation unit officers are looking into whether the woman and her relative, who were following the grey car in separate vehicles, both swerved to miss the decelerating car before a series of collisions occurred.

Police said the actions caused the woman’s car to spin onto the incorrect side of the Golden Highway, near the intersection of Reedy Creek Rd, and into the path of an oncoming utility.

A woman, aged in her 20s, died in a crash on the Golden Highway near Sandy Hollow on January 9, 2022. Picture: Google Maps

Police said the utility then struck the woman’s car, the force ejecting her.

Paramedics performed first aid on the woman, who police have said was aged in her 20s, but she could not be saved.

The truck driver, a close relative of the woman, and the utility driver have both been spoken to by police.

All three drivers are believed to be Hunter Valley residents.

Crash investigators are also keen to speak with the driver of the small grey car, who may not have known the incident occurred.

Police have called for anyone with dashcam footage along the Golden Highway on Monday morning – the incident occurred about 7.50am – to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.