Crimeline
Taxi driver punched and kicked - Earnslaw Park
A taxi driver was allegedly punched and kicked to the ground in Earnslaw Park by three Rolleston teenagers who’d allegedly taken off without paying their fare – one charged with assault with intent to injure, Police say.
Sergeant Tracy Haggart says the driver had dropped the three men into town shortly before 11pm on New Year’s Day. He’d located them after they’d run off and asked for his fare. One of the teens had then “squared up to the driver” while one of the others kicked and punched him, Haggart says. They both then allegedly kicked the driver on the ground, leaving him with a minor cut lip and bruising and abrasions to his face.
An 18-year-old Rolleston man will appear in the Christchurch District Court on 16 January, while the other was referred to Youth Aid.
Haggart says less than two hours earlier the three young men had been arrested and given formal warnings in Avalon Crescent after allegedly recklessly discharging airguns at a neighbouring property hitting residents. Police seized the airguns for destruction.
Violent downtown assault
An 18-year-old Invercargill man faces a charge of injuring with intent after allegedly punching a 20-year-old man in the face, knocking him unconscious then running off at 3am in Queenstown Mall on New Year’s Day. Haggart says the victim required surgery for a broken jaw. The alleged offender had been identified from CCTV footage and was arrested in Invercargill. He appears in Queenstown District Court tomorrow (Friday, 9 January).
Art gallery window punched in
A 19-year-old Nelson man, who allegedly punched an art gallery window on Marine Parade just before 2am on New Year’s Day cutting his hand and arm, faces a charge of wilful damage in the Nelson District Court on 22 January.
Drink driving - Driver dobs himself him
A 35-year-old Southland man, who drove to the Queenstown Police Station for help to remove some unwanted guests sleeping in his car at 7.30am on New Year’s Day, ended up being charged himself with drink driving. Haggart says the man allegedly blew 600mcg and appears in court on 30 January.
A 48-year-old Hawea woman allegedly blew 887mcg after allegedly losing control of her vehicle on a bend hitting a concrete culvert barrier on Gibbston Highway on her way home from Arrowtown at 4.15am on New Year’s Day. She’s also been charged with careless driving and will appear in court on 30 January.
High speed Kawarau Gorge crash
Investigations are continuing into a high-speed crash on a narrow section of the Kawarau Gorge near Roaring Meg around 10am on New Year’s Day. A St John Ambulance spokesperson says two ambulance crews responded with five people injured, one with moderate injuries who was taken to Lakes District Hospital. The others received minor injuries in the crash. Two Cromwell fire appliances and a support vehicle also attended what a FENZ spokesman says was a “high velocity crash”.
Haggart says a Mercedes Benz being driven south by a 60-year-old Twizel man allegedly veered to the left colliding with a roadside barrier, crossing the centreline striking a Toyota Corolla with three occupants in the opposite lane before allegedly hitting a Toyota Yaris rental vehicle head on, carrying one occupant. All vehicles were extensively damaged and the Mercedes driver, who was taken to hospital, received minor scratches and cuts.
Blood tests awaited after Frankton head on
Police are awaiting blood test results after a head on collision outside Queenstown Events Centre at Frankton in which both drivers were injured and taken to Lakes District Hospital just after 12.30am on Friday, 2 January. Haggart says a 37-year-old Queenstown man driving a Nissan towards Queenstown allegedly crossed the centreline, travelling along the wrong side of the road into the path of a Toyota Corolla containing a local man driving home from work. The Nissan driver received a broken ankle and cut knee while the Toyota driver had bruised ribs.
Investigations are continuing after a crash on Ladies Mile just before 3pm on Friday, 2 January, when a 33-year-old Queenstown woman in a Toyota Corolla allegedly failed to see traffic slowing for cyclists. Haggart says the woman allegedly drove into the back of an Audi, hitting a bike rack with two electric bikes, knocking it off the vehicle and causing the rack to then hit a Toyota Yaris stopped ahead. Nobody was injured.
American driver charged after crash
A 30-year-old American driver has been charged with careless driving causing injury after allegedly losing control of a Nissan on a left-hand bend at Arrow Junction, heading towards Gibbston, crossing the road and hitting a row of trees just after 9.30pm on New Year’s Day, Haggart says. A male passenger received a lower leg fracture. The driver appears in court tomorrow (Friday, 9 January).
Overseas driver clocks 170km/hr
Otago Lakes Central Area Acting Roading Policing Manager Sergeant Derek Ealson says Police are extremely concerned at some excessive speeds clocked over the holiday period. An overseas driver was to appear in Queenstown District Court on Monday for driving at dangerous speed after allegedly being clocked at 170km/hr on 28 December. Another overseas driver was clocked at 135km/hr in the Maniototo and another driver at 141km/hr in the same area, both on Boxing Day.
Police were called by Coastguard to Kelvin Peninsula golf course trail around 11.30am on Friday, 2 January, to a Ramco alloy boat washed up on shore. Nobody was with the boat and no owners could be located so the area was cordoned off and the boat left with Coastguard.
