A horror early morning crash in the suburbs claimed the life of a motorcycle rider, beginning a tragic weekend on the region's roads.
Police and paramedics were called to Hamilton North about 7.15am on Saturday, July 11.
They found a 55-year-old motorcycle rider had left the road and crashed into a fence.
He died at the scene.
Officers combed the area into the morning, urging anyone with information to come forward.
In a statement on Sunday, Police said a report would be prepared for the coroner.
Mere hours later, in a separate incident in the Hunter Valley, a second rider died in a crash with another vehicle near Pelaw Main outside Kurri Kurri.
Emergency services were called to Leggetts Drive, just south of Kurri Kurri, about 2.45pm, where they found a motorcycle and Mitsubishi Mirage had collided, killing the rider.
Paramedics made every effort to save the 58-year-old man at the scene, but he could not be revived. The other driver, a 72-year-old woman, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
The road was closed for hours into the evening before reopening overnight.
Anyone with information about either incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
