Inspector Greg Spinks of Mudgee police said the single vehicle accident occurred around 5pm on June 22.

“It occurred just before the Crudine turn-off and the car had been travelling south.

“It is understood the sedan veered on to the wrong side of the road and the driver appears to have lost control and went over an embankment.

“The car came to rest in a 4.5 metre deep gully after ploughing into the western bank. The driver was the sole occupant of the car.

“Poor road conditions, wet surface and bends in the road appear to have been contributing factors,” he said.

Insp. Spinks said a lane had been closed for four hours to allow forensics to examine the scene after the fatality.

“Local VRA, RFS and the Fire Brigade assisted with traffic control and motorists responded well to the changed conditions.”

A report was being prepared for the coroner.

Police are getting help from Metro

Local police are so concerned over the eighth road fatality in our region this year that assistance has been sought from the metropolitan Highway Patrol for extra police numbers.

Superintendent Mick Cleary told The Weekly that ‘Operation Dusty’ would be rolling through until August.

“With another four Highway Patrol cars and eight extra officers, it raises the profile of police presence. When ‘Operation Dusty’ was introduced in the LAC in April, it made a difference to the number of accidents. What was concerning, however, was that police handed out more traffic fines to motorists doing the wrong thing particularly with speed.”

In seven fatalities prior to Mondays, speed was a contributing factor.