At least four people have been hospitalised, including a child, and a woman is in a critical condition, after a head-on collision closed Nelson Bay Road in both directions near Bobs Farm north of Salt Ash on Tuesday afternoon.
Paramedics have treated six people at the scene, including a woman police believed was aged in her 70s, who was trapped in her SUV after a collision with a sedan which police said was carrying a man and his two preschool-aged children.
The woman was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital for treatment soon after 3.30pm, police said.
A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said paramedics had treated five others at the scene for various injuries, four of whom, including at least one child, were taken to John Hunter Hospital and were believed to be in a stable condition.
Police and several paramedic units were called to the scene just before 3.30pm after reports two cars had collided and there was fluid spilled over the road. Traffic was heavy on Nelson Bay Road in both directions from scene as emergency crews worked to clear the way.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit.
Nelson Bay Road remained closed in both directions around 5pm.
