BY IAN CROUCH

Police have charged a 17-year-old boy over a fatal crash at Salt Ash.

A white Ford Falcon sedan with five teenagers on board ran off Lemon Tree Passage Road at about 10.45pm on Friday and crashed into a tree.

A 16-year-old boy died on the way to hospital while three other passengers, one aged 14 and the others aged 17, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police the driver, a 17-year-old boy, returned a positive result to a roadside breath test.

He was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and further assessment.

Upon his release from hospital, he was taken to Newcastle Police station where he was charged with learner not accompanied driver, negligent driving occasioning death and special category driver drive with special range PCA.

He’s been granted condition bail to face Raymond Terrace Court on August 19.

Police have charged a 17-year-old boy over a fatal crash at Salt Ash