Crimeline
Disqualified driver allegedly assaults Police
A 29-year-old local man was charged with assaulting and resisting Police, refusing to accompany an enforcement officer and driving while disqualified after Police were called to Hanley’s Farm by a member of the public concerned about the way a van was allegedly being driven at 12.30am on Tuesday, 13 January.
Constable Amanda Shute says when Police arrived the driver of the vehicle had left the area. “Enquiries revealed that the occupants had left in a taxi,” she says. The driver of the vehicle was located at a different address and arrested.
The 29-year-old man will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 26 January.
Queenstown Mall New Year’s assault
An 18-year-old man, who presented himself to Police recently, has been charged with injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to an assault in Queenstown Mall in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Shute says the man appeared in the Queenstown District Court on 5 January and has been remanded on bail to reappear on 9 February.
Police issued a media call for help from the public on 3 January, supplying an image of a man they believed may be able to assist with their enquiries into the alleged downtown assault.
Drink driving crash – Jack’s Point
A 46-year-old Queenstown man has been charged with driving with excess breath alcohol, third and subsequent, after allegedly blowing 818mcg following a crash at Jack’s Point just before 9pm on Tuesday (13 January).
Shute says the man’s licence was suspended for 28 days and he will appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday, 19 January.
Other drink driving
A 27-year-old Christchurch man was also stopped by Police on State Highway 6, near Jack’s Point, just after 5.30pm following a driving complaint by a member of the public on Friday, 9 January. The man allegedly blew 476mcg when tested.
A 19-year-old Wanaka man allegedly blew 600mcg when stopped at an alcohol checkpoint at Arrowtown around 7.45pm on Friday, 9 January.
A 30-year-old Queenstown man also allegedly blew 584mcg when stopped at a checkpoint in Wanaka just before 9pm on Saturday, 10 January, and a 26-year-old Queenstown woman allegedly blew 572mcg when stopped on Frankton Road.
All appear in court on 30 January.
Woman motorcyclist allegedly clocked at 186km/hr
A 42-year-old Cromwell female motorcycle rider, allegedly clocked travelling at 186km/hr just outside Cromwell just before 9pm on Tuesday night (13 January), has been charged with driving at a dangerous speed and will appear in court, Otago Lakes Road Policing Sergeant Bruce Martin says.
The woman was allegedly speeding along State Highway 6 between the Cromwell turnoff roundabout and McNulty Road, just past Ripponburn Home.
“That is truly a ridiculous speed at any time,” Martin says.
Police have impounded her motorcycle and suspended her licence, both for 28 days.
There had been some concerning speeds reached by staff patrolling the Lindis Pass too where drivers had been clocked at 134 and 137km/hr.
Police also attended six minor vehicle crashes around the Wakatipu between Friday and Wednesday and a two-vehicle crash near Bannockburn on Tuesday evening.
Jetboat accident
Three people were also injured after a jetboat accident at Makarora around 3.20pm last Wednesday (7 January). A St John Ambulance spokesperson says two rescue helicopters, a rapid response vehicle and a first response unit were all dispatched to the Rata Road-Haast Pass-Makarora Road area. “Three patients were assessed at the scene, and two were flown to Dunedin Hospital in a moderate condition,” the spokesperson says. The third patient was assessed at the scene and didn’t require treatment.
A person was also flown to Dunedin Hospital in a serious condition after an accident at Cardrona shortly after.
Mountain biker airlifted
A mountain biker was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital by the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter after an accident on a Queenstown mountain biking track shortly before midday on Tuesday (13 January). A St John Ambulance spokesperson says the patient was in a minor condition.
FENZ calls for vigilance around fires
Despite the recent rain, FENZ is warning people to be vigilant and wise around fires as warmer weather approaches, and keep a watch on checkitsalright.nz
“We’ve had a lot of growth late in spring and into summer and with nicer weather coming, once that dries out there will be a lot of fuel to burn,” FENZ group manager Central Otago Bobby Lamont says.
Thankfully, volunteer firefighters from Ranfurly and Omakau were on the scene quickly to extinguish two vegetation fires on Wednesday, 14 January, one ignited by an agricultural mower. The Lakes and Central Otago areas are still in a restricted fire season for now, but FENZ says that may be upgraded to a ban in the next few weeks with warmer weather forecast.
