NSW: Snow falls in mountains and cuts off Oberon

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2001
NSW: Snow falls in mountains and cuts off Oberon

SYDNEY, Aug 22 AAP - Snow was today falling across much of the NSW Blue Mountains and
was believed to have contributed to a fatal road accident this morning.

Senior Constable Dennis Martin, of Bathurst Police, said snow and ice may have contributed
to the accident between a car and a petrol tanker on the Great Western Highway between
Bathurst and Lithgow.

"Probably the biggest problem is between Bathurst and Lithgow where there's a fatal
car accident and it's snowing fairly heavily," he said.

Ambulance officers said the driver of the car died instantly in the head-on collision
with the petrol tanker 15km east of Bathurst about 6am (AEST).

The driver of the tanker was taken to Bathurst Base Hospital in a stable condition.

Lanes closed down by the accident had since been re-opened, he said.

Senior Constable Virginia Sheil, of Lithgow Police, said snow and ice had forced the
closure of the three main roads in and out of Oberon.

She said it was believed that the Oberon to Hampton Road was the only one still open.

Snr Const Sheil also said Mount Conoblas at Orange was still closed.

The Bureau of Meteorology said snow in the Blue Mountains and to the west of the range
should ease through the day.

AAP rg/jjs/ph/de

KEYWORD: SNOW

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.