Crimeline

15 dealt with for drink driving – Very disappointing

Police are ‘very disappointed’ to have netted 15 alleged drink drivers at various levels in just six days around the district this past week, also attending a number of crashes, involving young, inexperienced drivers – Kiwis and from overseas.

Otago Lakes Road Policing Sergeant Bruce Martin says a 22-year-old old visiting overseas driver allegedly failed to give way to an oncoming vehicle on State Highway 6 at the Crown Range turnoff at 9.45am yesterday, 12 November, resulting in a three-vehicle crash. She allegedly failed to give way to an oncoming vehicle off the State Highway when turning right onto the Crown Range Rd, Martin says. Her rental vehicle then allegedly collided with the oncoming vehicle and a second vehicle waiting at the ‘Stop’ sign at the intersection. The young woman suffered minor injuries and was taken to Lakes District Hospital. There were no other injuries, and the matter was still being investigated.

Martin says 15 alleged drink drivers - nine of whom have been charged and will appear in court, was “unacceptable” and those numbers “won’t be tolerated” moving into the busy Christmas summer period.

A 29-year-old Alexandra man allegedly clocked 137km/hr, allegedly blew 733mcg and was in breach of a zero-alcohol licence after being stopped in a tricky part of the narrow Kawarau Gorge near Roaring Meg at10.40pm on Saturday, 8 November, Martin says. He will appear in the Alexandra District Court.

A 42-year-old Queenstown man was arrested for refusing to accompany Police and refusing an officer’s request for blood on Stalker Road at 4am last Wednesday, 5 December.

He had his licence suspended for 28 days and will appear in the Queenstown District Court tomorrow (14 November).

A 29-year-old local man allegedly blew 855mcg and allegedly admitted to Police that he was disqualified from driving when stopped on Ladies Mile, Frankton, just after 5.15am on Saturday, 8 November. His vehicle was impounded for 28 days, and he appeared in Queenstown District Court, remanded to reappear on 12 December.

Other drink driving:

21-year-old local, 478mcg, Camp Street, 2.51am, 8 November. Court tomorrow, 14 November.

21-year-old local, allegedly blew 473mcg after allegedly being observed speeding and driving erratically, Suburb Street, 3.24am, 9 November.

Maritn says the other six drivers stopped were dealt with by infringement notice.

Young inexperienced drivers crash
- Teenager rolls vehicle

A 19-year-old local man was charged with driving dangerously causing injury after a single vehicle crash on Gorge Road just before 2pm last Thursday, 6 November. Constable Amanda Shute says the driver was allegedly travelling more than the posted 60km/hr speed limit when the left side of the vehicle crossed the left-hand fog line and hit loose gravel. He allegedly lost control, and it left the road, rolling multiple times. He will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 1 December.

Martin says there were also several non-injury crashes in the region, all involving young, inexperienced drivers – two overseas drivers on the Lindis Pass and a young, local driver, who appeared to have taken a speed signed corner on the Glenorchy Road too fast and lost control.

Martin urges drivers to concentrate on what they, and others, are doing. “It only takes a moment of inattention. Drive cautiously, don’t speed and be prepared for the unexpected.

“If you’re travelling at 100km/hr the average person takes 2.5 seconds to react. You travel at 27.7m in one second when driving at that speed so you’ll have travelled 69.25m – half the length of a football field, by the time you react to whatever has happened.”

 

Bottles smashed on Stanley Street

A 46-year-old Wellington man has been charged with disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and shoplifting after allegedly smashing bottles on the road on Stanley Street, “shouting and yelling profanities” as he walked around outside Super Liquor just before

midnight on Friday, 7 November, Shute says. He then allegedly entered Super Liquor and stole a bottle of spirits. It was later revealed he had also allegedly stolen a bottle of wine from a nearby store, she says. The man appeared in court on 10 November and was bailed to reappear on 12 December.

Violence breaks out at courthouse

Three people in their 40s have been charged after a violent incident broke out in the Queenstown District Court foyer last Wednesday afternoon, 5 November. Police were called to the courthouse after reports of disorder. All three were charged with disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence. The 40-year-old woman was also charged with assaulting Police, and a 42-year-old woman was also charged with assault, speaking threateningly and resisting Police. They were bailed to reappear in the Queenstown District Court.

Rescue helicopter – Nevis accident

The Otago Rescue Helicopter flew a patient with moderate injuries to Dunstan Hospital after a motor vehicle accident on Nevis Road just before 8.30pm on Monday, 10 November. A St John Ambulance spokesperson says two other patients with minor injuries were taken to Dunstan Hospital by ambulance.

Another patient in a moderate condition was airlifted from Glenorchy to Southland Hospital by the Rescue Helicopter around 10am on Sunday, 9 November, after a fall.

Driving while disqualified

A 22-year-old Gisborne man and a 38-year-old Central Otago man were charged with driving while disqualified and had their vehicles impounded after being stopped locally on Sunday, 9 November, – one just after 5.45am and one just after 11am. Both appear in court tomorrow (Friday, 9 November).

Firefighters called to car plunging into lake

Both Frankton and Queenstown Fire Brigades rushed to the Wakatipu Yacht Club after an emergency call from a resident across the lake that a car had gone into the lake just before 3am on Monday, 10 November. Frankton senior station officer Paul Halsted says they arrived to find Police and St John Ambulance staff and were not needed. A stolen vehicle found abandoned and submerged in Lake Wakatipu, after it was allegedly used to unlawfully gain entry in a Remarkables Park commercial burglary around 2.15am on Monday, was removed from the lake yesterday (12 November), Police said.

In the poo

The brigade was also called to Beach Street to free a person stuck in the public toilets on Sunday, 9 November. The person was trapped for 20 minutes but free by the time the brigade arrived.

Boaties warned

FENZ is also warning boaties to ensure they put out any fires properly after fire broke out on an island at the confluence of the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers about 8pm on Friday, 7 November. Otago Lakes group assistant commander Nic McQuillan says it wasn’t safe for crews to get there and the fire was monitored for three days, eventually burning out.