Support for family after ‘nightmare’ North Haven crash

ALMOST $25,000 has been raised in support of a local family after a “devastating” head-on crash at North Haven on Saturday, 23 May.

Emergency services were called to Ocean Drive at around 8pm on Saturday, following reports of a crash.

Officers from the Mid North Coast Police District arrived on scene to find a two-vehicle collision involving a Hyundai i30 and a Holden Barina.

The four occupants of the Barina – two women aged 47 and 18, a 16-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old boy – were able to exit the vehicle before it caught fire.

The female driver of the Hyundai, 60, was trapped for a short time before being released by Fire and Rescue NSW.

The occupants of both vehicles were taken to Port Macquarie Hospital, before the 60-year-old woman and 14-year-old boy were transferred to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

In the aftermath of the crash, a fundraiser identified Eve Arnold as the 47-year-old in the Barina, noting she had been driving home from a dinner with her children Ella and Noah, and her niece Ruby, at the time of the accident.

“The car caught fire immediately on impact, and they were incredibly fortunate to escape with their lives,” organiser Pip Neal wrote on the fundraising platform.

“Fourteen-year-old Noah…has already undergone two surgeries for life-threatening internal injuries.

“He remains in an induced coma, with further surgeries and scans ahead to assess suspected spinal injuries.

“Ella, 18… is currently in a stable condition at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

“She has already undergone surgery for a broken arm and is scheduled for another operation today.

“She is also suffering from burns to her legs, as well as shoulder and knee injuries.

“Ruby and Eve are also receiving treatment at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.”

The fundraiser notes Eve is now facing significant financial pressure due to time away from work, travel between hospitals, accommodation, meals, and the “ongoing costs that come with supporting her children through recovery”.

“Eve, a devoted single mum, is facing every parent’s worst nightmare – separated from Noah while desperately waiting for updates from John Hunter Hospital, all while trying to support the recovery of the other children,” Pip wrote.

As of Wednesday midday, the fundraiser had raised $24,841.

Police inquiries are continuing.