A notorious black spot at Harpers Hill claimed the life of woman in a multi-vehicle accident yesterday afternoon. The fatality is the tenth in 12 years on the 3.5km stretch of the road. The woman, believed to be in her 50s and from the area, was travelling west along the New England Highway when the accident occurred about 4pm. Maitland Chief Inspector Steve Moat said the woman had stopped on the highway and was attempting to turn into a driveway when a school bus, also travelling west, crashed into the back of her vehicle. The collision forced the woman’s white sedan into the east bound lane where it crashed into a ute. The woman died at the scene while the male occupant of the ute was rushed to Maitland Hospital with arm and leg injuries.

The four high school students on the bus were assessed by paramedics at the scene but were uninjured.

The bus driver also escaped injury but was described by paramedics as “a bit shaken”.

Late yesterday one westbound lane remained open for trucks but the rest of the road was closed.

Harpers Hill residents have waged a long campaign to get the horror stretch of road fixed.

In February, Harpers Hill resident Kevin Gordon told the Mercury that he had written to both the State and Federal governments, as well as Maitland City Council, calling them to take action.

Improvements he suggested included an upgrade of turning lanes into both Walkers Hill and Harpers Hill lanes from both directions and safe access to all properties on Harpers Hill.

Robyn Parker MLC also raised her concerns in an address to Parliament in March.

“There have been nine deaths in 12 years on Harpers Hill and countless accidents,” Ms Parker told the Legislative Council.

“There are memorial sites dotted along the road where family and friends continue to remember those who have died in the accidents there.

“The pleas of residents to upgrade this stretch have continually been ignored and most recently the Roads and Traffic Authority stated that the road did not fit the criteria for funds under the federal black spot program,” she said.

The next month the Federal Government promised $1 million for a central median safety barrier in response to the community campaign.

But Mr Gordon told the Mercury last night the work was still in the consultative stage.

“Works are in progress but nothing has happened yet,” Mr Gordon said.

“The residents group is in dispute with the RTA - they are supposed to be consulting but they aren’t listening to what we’re saying,” he said.

Mr Gordon said a central safety barrier on the road could have saved her life.