About 7pm on August 17, a woman was driving her sedan southbound on the New England Highway, about 4km north of Willow Tree, when the vehicle rolled, landing down an embankment off the side of the road. 

A passer-by stopped and assisted and found a two-year-old girl deceased, and an 11-month-old boy suffering critical injuries. 

Police from Oxley and Hunter Valley Local Area Command’s attended the scene and co-ordinated a response with the assistance of NSW Ambulance, Rural Fire Service, VRA, and Westpac Rescue Helicopter. 

The infant was flown to John Hunter Hospital for further treatment and has since been transferred to Newcastle Children’s Hospital, where he remains.

The woman was taken to Tamworth Base Hospital and was later released.

On Tuesday, crash investigators from Tamworth charged a 20–year-old woman with dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, drive whilst disqualified and drive with a passenger between 6 months and 4 years unrestrained as prescribed.

She appeared before Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday where she was granted conditional bail.

The case returns to court on October 28.