A 44-year-old man has been charged with assault causing death after a man died near Newcastle yesterday.

Around 3pm (Tuesday 4 August 2015), emergency services were called to an industrial site on Old Maitland Road at Sandgate where they found a 45-year-old man unconscious.

The 45-year-old was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and were told two men had been involved in an argument following a minor collision between a truck and a forklift.

A 44-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Waratah Police Station where he was later charged with assault causing death.

Bail refused, he is scheduled to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 5 August 2015).