Labor candidate and former Newcastle radio presenter Meryl Swanson was involved in a car crash incident today, along with Labor leader Bill Shorten.

Swanson was a presenter at 2HD and 2NUR before stepping down to contest the marginal NSW seat of Paterson in this election.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his support team were pulling over for a media stop on the NSW Central Coast when another car overtaking the Labor leader’s convoy was involved in a head-on collision.

Shorten was preparing to make an election campaign announcement about flood mitigation to local journalists who were part of the convoy.

Two women and a two year old child were in the crashed cars. One woman was taken to hospital in a stable condition while Bill Shorten helped comfort the other woman. Meryl Swanson comforted the boy in the front seat of Mr Shorten’s car and read him a small pile of storybooks that ABC journalist Penny Evans had in her vehicle.

Shorten and Swanson later drove the mother and son home. Labor suspended campaigning after the accident.

Meryl Swanson praised Mr Shorten’s response to the crash and said it was fortunate no one was seriously injured:

“He was just outstanding… It’s often when a person’s true character is shown in a situation like this. He was sensitive and very reassuring.”