Crimeline

Three car pile-up Lower Shotover Bridge – Flying object

Frankton and Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigades, Police and St Johns Ambulance rushed to what was effectively a three-car pile up on Lower Shotover Bridge just before 6pm last night (8 October) in peak rush hour traffic after an object flew off a vehicle.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) Otago group manager Bobby Lamont says fortunately those involved escaped with what appeared to be minor injuries, but all three vehicles were damaged.

“It appears that something came off the first vehicle in front and into the second vehicle travelling behind, which was then hit by a third vehicle,” he says.

It was still not clear what the object was, but it was fortunate that there were no more serious injuries.

 

Chimney fire at Eichardt’s

Both Queenstown and Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigades were kept busy late yesterday (8 October), also attending a chimney fire at Eichardt’s Hotel, which was fortunately out by the time firefighters arrived on the roof of the five-star lakefront hotel. “We checked there was no smouldering around the flue and up through the building, Lamont says.

 

Airbnb guests save the day

Quick thinking from some Goldfield Heights Airbnb guests who arrived at their accommodation to find a fire smouldering in a wheelie bin in a shed on the property just before 6pm yesterday has been praised. “They did the right thing and called 111, moving the bin away from the shed where the Queenstown Brigade put it out,” Lamont says. The fire appeared to have probably been started by hot ashes. “Hot ashes must go into a metal bucket for six days,” he says.

 

‘Gnome’inated to a dare – Prank ends with assault

They usually hang out in gardens but a Queenstown gnome, that hangs out on the bar in a Searle Lane late night spot, caused quite a furore after a 28-year-old local man was dared to a gnome prank.

Sergeant Tracy Haggart says the gnome is a normal feature on the bar and the 28-year-old allegedly took it and hid it outside after a dare from his friends around 11pm last Wednesday, 1 October. “He then went and retrieved the gnome when asked to by the staff,” Haggart says.

However, while he was outside getting the gnome she says he was approached by a 57-year-old local man, and a disagreement arose over the gnome being removed from the bar.  The older man allegedly grabbed the younger man’s hood, threw him on the ground and against a parked vehicle. “The offender pulled the victim back up and the pair had a brief verbal argument,” she says.

“The offender then allegedly punched the victim in the face before members of the public intervened.”

The 57-year-old man has been charged with assault and appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Monday (6 October). He was remanded on bail to reappear in January 2026.

 

Serious patient airlifted from Kelvin Heights

A patient was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition after an accident involving a fall on Spring Hill Road, Kelvin Heights, just after 7.30pm on Sunday, 5 October. The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter and St John Ambulance staff attended. No further details were available.

 

Picking fights at McDonald’s

A 42-year-old Christchurch man allegedly trying to pick fights first at McDonald’s Restaurant then nearby on Frankton Road just before midnight on Tuesday, 7 October, has been charged with disorderly behaviour.

Constable Amanda Shute says Police arrived at McDonald’s after the first report and separated two parties, including the man. “Shortly after Police were called to Frankton Road after receiving more reports of a male trying to start a fight and the same man from the earlier incident was identified and arrested, she says. He will appear in the Queenstown Court on Monday, 13 October.

 

Crash at Lower Shotover intersection

A 36-year-old Queenstown woman has been charged with careless driving causing injury after allegedly failing to give way at the ‘Stop’ sign at the Domain and Lower Shotover Road intersection, causing her to collide into another vehicle at 8.40am on Monday, 6 October. Shute says the woman’s vehicle collided with a vehicle travelling east on Lower Shotover Road and then crashed into a fence.

 

Multiple near misses – Drunk driver

A 31-year-old Queenstown man, who was clocked at over three and a half times the legal breath alcohol limit, had been seen by Police crossing the centre line and having multiple near misses, Shute says. A roadside breath test produced a result of 924mcg just after 5am on Sunday, 5 October, and the man was immediately suspended from driving, she says.

The man pleaded guilty in the Queenstown Court on Monday (6 October) and was convicted and sentenced to eight months disqualification and fined $950.

 

Drink driving – 3 October

30-year-old local woman, Jack’s Point, 316mcg, 9.07pm. Infringement notice issued.

25-year-old local man, Frankton, 338mcg, 7.06pm. Infringement notice issued.