Man faces six charges after fatal crash near Maitland

The driver of a utility is facing six charges after his passenger died in a crash in the Hunter region last month.
Emergency services were called to Anambah Road at Rutherford, 8km north-east of Maitland, shortly after 9pm on Saturday 7 November 2020, after a Ford utility left the roadway and hit a guard rail.
The front-seat passenger, a 29-year-old man, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and commenced inquiries with assistance from the Crash Investigation Unit.
The driver, a 33-year-old man, was arrested and taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing, before
being taken to Maitland Police Station.
Following iinquiries by the Crash Investigation Unit, the man has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death – influence drugs, dangerous driving occasioning death – drive under influence, drive vehicle (while) illicit drug present in blood, and drive with middle range PCA.
He is due to appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 17 February 2021.