A male driver whose passenger was killed in a single-vehicle crash last month is now facing six charges, including for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
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Jamie Patrick Fogg, 33, of Rutherford was charged with additional offences over a crash that killed his mate, 28-year-old father-of-three Luke Cooke, on the night of November 7.
Emergency services had been called to Anambah Road at Rutherford shortly after 9pm on November 7 after a Ford utility left the road and hit a guard rail.
The front-seat passenger, Mr Cooke, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.
Port Stephens-Hunter Police attended the scene and commenced inquiries with assistance from the Crash Investigation Unit.
Crash investigators say that as Mr Fogg was rounding the sweeping right hand bend, about 1.5 kilometres north of Niven Parade, his vehicle left the road, travelling along a grass shoulder for about 12 metres before colliding with a guardrail.
Mr Fogg was arrested at the scene and taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing, before being taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous, and negligent driving (occasioning death).
He supplied a version of events to police after the crash, claiming that he swerved to miss a kangaroo as he rounded the bend prior to the crash.
The Newcastle Herald reported last week that test results from a blood sample taken from Mr Fogg at the John Hunter Hospital after the crash were outstanding, and that police had believed those results could lead to further charges being laid.
Police confirmed on Saturday that inquiries by the Crash Investigation Unit had led to more allegations stemming from the fatal crash.
Mr Fogg has now also been charged with aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death - influence drugs, dangerous driving occasioning death - drive under influence, drive vehicle (while) illicit drug present in blood, and mid-range drink-driving.
Mr Fogg, who is represented by criminal defence lawyer Drew Hamilton, appeared in Maitland Local Court on Wednesday.
He did not enter any pleas and was released on bail.
Mr Fogg is due to re-appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday, February 17.