Crimeline

Public urged to help - Fleeing motorcyclist allegedly clocked at almost 200km/hr
Police are warning the thousands of motorcyclists heading south for this weekend’s Burt Munro Challenge there will be ‘zero tolerance for unsafe behaviour on our roads’, after two motorcycle crashes – one serious, and an alleged fleeing motorcyclist who allegedly clocked almost 200km/hr – twice the limit, in Central Otago last weekend.

The Vincent Rally was held at Omakau Racecourse attracting over 700 people.

Police are appealing for the public’s help in identifying the alleged fleeing motorcyclist riding a sports bike on Ida Valley-Omakau Road around 10.20am on Sunday, 1 February. The driver was allegedly seen travelling at twice the posted speed limit and was signalled to stop. Police say they abandoned their pursuit so as not to endanger others. They say the rider was wearing a distinctive red and white helmet and allegedly continued to travel at speed passing two other motorcyclists. They’re appealing for information regarding the motorcycle, or its rider, and would especially like to hear from the two motorcyclists who were passed by the fleeing motorcycle.

Sergeant Bruce Martin says it’s “unbelievable, just stupid, how people will put themselves and others at risk.”

Police also abandoned pursuing another motorcyclist allegedly clocked at 158km/hr at Fruitlands on Friday, 30 January, who was allegedly overtaking cars.

With up to 10,000 expected – some 4500 motorcycles, many heading through Central Otago and the Wakatipu for the Burt Munro event, Martin is urging road users to look twice at intersections, stick to the speed limit and drive to the conditions keeping themselves and others safe.

Long weekend road warnings
District road policing manager Inspector Sarah Thorn says they’re urging all road users this week to ‘slow down, stay alert and make safe choices’ as traffic volumes increase.

All road users, including motorcyclists, are urged to:

• Avoid driving or riding while tired or impaired
• Stick to posted speed limits and drive to the conditions
• Ensure vehicles and motorcycles are roadworthy
• Wear appropriate safety gear, including seatbelts and approved motorcycle protection.

“Small decisions can have life-changing consequences,” she says.

Anyone who witnesses illegal or unsafe driving behaviour is urged to call 111 if it’s happening now or is an emergency. Call 105 for non-emergencies.

Downtown assault
Enquiries are continuing to identify the offender after a 21-year-old Queenstown man was allegedly assaulted by an unknown person and left with a bleeding nose and torn clothing, Haggart says. The incident occurred at 1.30am on Saturday, 31 January, in Searle Lane.

Police were also called to Camp Street at 3am on Monday, 2 February, after reports that about eight people were fighting there. However, they’d separated prior to Police arrival.

McBride Street – Frankton Road crash
A 26-year-old woman was issued with an infringement notice for failing to give way after a crash at the Frankton Road-McBride Street intersection just before 5pm on Friday, 30 January. Sergeant Tracy Haggart says the woman, who was driving a Hyundai, allegedly turned left out of McBride Street failing to give way to a Honda traveling along Frankton Road towards Queenstown. Both vehicles collided but nobody was injured, she says.

Pat on the back
Some overseas drivers may have been getting a bad rap for behaviour on our roads lately, but a couple of young American tourists have been praised for going out of their way to do the right thing after a crash in Arrowtown.

Arrowtown Business Association manager Nicky Busst says the young couple in their 20s had stopped her asking for her help as they were desperately trying to find the owner of a parked car that one of them had allegedly, accidentally crashed into with their Yes rental car opposite Rose Douglas Park in Arrowtown on Monday, 2 February.

“Both their rental car and the parked car were quite badly damaged – the whole left side of the rental and the whole back corner of the parked car,” Busst says. “This young woman was so concerned that she had to find the owner. She totally did the right thing,” she says. “We see damage to parked vehicles in supermarket car parks and subdivision. 

all the time, but these people went out of their way,” Busst says. Busst posted a photo of the damaged parked car on social media to help the couple locate the owner. They have since been located and the couple is contacting the Police.

Drink driving – Saturday, 31 January
32-year-old Queenstown man, 734mcg, Stanley Street, 4.06am.

27-year-old Queenstown man, 600mcg, Stanley Street, 4.11am. Both appear in court on 27 February. 

Fatal head on smash – Glenorchy Routeburn Road
Police investigations are continuing into a fatal two vehicle, head on crash near Glenorchy in which one person died and another was seriously injured just after 4.40am on Sunday, 1 February.

Fire crews from Glenorchy and Queenstown attended the crash on the Glenorchy-Routeburn Road, as did St John Ambulance and the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter.

Fire and Emergency Otago Lakes Group assistant commander Nic McQuillan says it was a “very serious accident”. “One person was trapped and our crews had to use equipment to extricate them,” he says.

McQuillan reiterated his concerns from last week about safety on our roads, urging people to be patient and slow down.

A St John spokesperson says they responded with a First Response Unit, the rescue helicopter and an ambulance. One patient was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital and no update on their condition was available.

The Police Serious Crash Unit attended, and a Police spokesperson says the road was partially blocked for a while.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those involved,” the spokesperson says.

Rescue helicopter
A St John Ambulance spokesperson says the rescue helicopter airlifted two separate patents - one in a moderate condition and one minor, after PLB and SEND device activations from the Mount Earnslaw area at the weekend. Another patient was airlifted after an accident near Aspiring Hut, also in a minor condition. All were taken to Lakes District Hospital.