THE Hunter’s horror fortnight on the road has claimed another life, with motorcyclist Mick McCulloch killed at Catherine Hill Bay on Saturday.
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Mr McCulloch, 33, who police said was from Medowie, died after his motorcycle and a car collided on Flowers Drive about 3.15pm.
Police said early investigations indicated Mr McCulloch may have failed to negotiate a bend in the seconds before the crash.
The driver of the car, a 19-year-old man, was not injured in the crash, police said.
He was breath-tested at the scene and taken to Belmont Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
A second motorcyclist, a 47-year-old man from Singleton, was injured in a crash after the initial impact, police said.
He was taken to John Hunter Hospital with suspected broken legs and ribs.
Police do not believe the two motorcyclists were riding together.
It is believed Mr McCulloch had stopped in at the Catherine Hill Bay pub for lunch – a popular destination for weekend motorcycle riders – and was heading back towards the Pacific Highway on Flowers Drive when the crash occurred.
His death brought the Hunter’s road toll to 30, after the death of a woman at East Gresford on Friday, and triggered an outpouring of emotion on social media.
Family members posted photographs of Mr McCulloch on Facebook in the wake of his tragic death.
Mr McCulloch’s mother, Trish McCulloch, posted two pictures of her son with the words: “My handsome caring son passed away early yesterday evening I love you Michael”.
Her message was met with dozens of heartfelt responses from friends and family.
“It is one of the hardest challenges in life for a parent to lose a child, but it is extremely harder for a mother because she had the closet bond with the loved one lost,” one person wrote.
“Trish I know the pain you are going through and I send my love and prayers to you in this saddest of times.”
Mr McCulloch’s wife, Michelle McCulloch, posted the couple’s wedding photographs and a collage of the pair together.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information is urged to contact police.
