Police said a white Ford Falcon sedan carrying four boys and one girl, aged between 14 and 17, veered off Lemon Tree Passage Road in Salt Ash, near Port Stephens at about 10.45pm yesterday.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, a 16-year-old boy died on his way to the hospital.
“The family has received some of the worst news they could possibly receive,” Inspector Fatih Samsa said at a press conference today.
“Even one death on our roads is one death too many.”
The other three passengers were taken to John Hunter Hospital for a number of non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the learner’s licence driver of the sedan, a 17-year-old boy, was given a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive reading.
He was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
A crime scene has been established at the crash site and an investigation has begun.