Crimeline: Gibbston fatal, assaults and more
Gibbston fatality not hit and run – more witnesses sought
Police say the fatality opposite the Kawarau Bungy Bridge around 10pm on Monday night was definitely not a hit and run and the Kiwi driver had stopped immediately and called emergency services.
They are still calling for any witnesses or other drivers with dashcam footage that will help in their investigations into the death of the man who Detective Alex Cully says was from overseas.
He’d been walking along State Highway 6 near the bungy bridge around 10pm when he was hit by a car. Sadly, the man was found deceased at the scene. His family overseas have been notified of the tragedy.
Detective Alex Cully says the driver of the car had been very helpful and cooperative and the whole experience had obviously been very upsetting for him.
“We’re still interested in any sightings in the area at the time,” Cully says.
The man who died was wearing black pants and a black shirt, walking along the highway just before 10pm. “Our inquiries are continuing and we’d still like anyone with dashcam footage, or who witnessed the incident, or saw this man walking along the highway, to come forward,” Cully says.
The man’s death has been referred to the Coroner.
Anyone with information should contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking "Update Report" or call 105.
Use the reference number 250304/8199.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.
Police want to hear from assault victims – Jardine Park
Police would like to hear from any more victims of assaults, or people who are aware of assaults, in the Jardine Park area of Kelvin Heights after arresting two teenagers for serious offences, including alleged assault at the park on Sunday, 23 February, and Tuesday, 25 February. Victims were left needing hospital treatment for their injuries.
Two teenagers have been charged with aggravated burglary, threatening to kill, assault with a weapon and possession of an offensive weapon. They’ve also been charged with a burglary in the area earlier in February and will appear in the Queenstown Youth Court on 12 March.
“We still want to hear from anyone who has seen anything suspicious in the area recently, especially around that time, or any time since,” Cully says. “We’re not looking for anyone else in relation to this though and the public can feel safe,” she says.
Report suspicious behaviour
Police are also investigating a recent spate of car break-ins in Kelvin Heights, some of these dating back up to six months, and they still want to hear from anyone with information, sightings, or who may have had property damaged.
“If anyone has vehicles targeted, even little things like a broken window, anything that’s been interfered with, and also in months gone by, we want to hear from them,” Cully says. “Keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious and please report it to the Police.”
Contact Police on 105, either by calling or making a report online here and quote the reference number 250224/8050.
Information can be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Mass turn out for ‘red zone’ fire – Wilson’s Bay
Five fire trucks and four helicopters were called to a fire at Wilson’s Bay, near Closeburn, yesterday (5 March) which started due to spontaneous combustion in grass clippings at a private residence. Nic McQuillan says while the small fire – 5m by 5m – was quickly brought under control only a few trucks remained, and the activated helicopters were stood down. “This area is in the ‘red zone’ (high risk) so we react rapidly and strongly to mitigate any potential risk,” McQuillan says. No property was damaged, but it highlighted the risks. People needed to keep turning green waste like clippings.
Fighting at McDonald’s
A 30-year-old Canterbury man was arrested for fighting after an altercation between him and two other males inside McDonald’s Restaurant just after midnight on Sunday, 2 March. Constable Amanda
Shute says the fighting continued outside where the man was pushed by a male and retaliated, punching one of the men and kicking the other. The two other males left prior to Police arrival and the Canterbury male was released with a formal warning.
High speed drink driver at Fernhill
A driver travelling at high speed stopped by Police on Fernhill Road at 1.42am on Sunday, 2 March, blew 734mcg/l and had his licence suspended for 28 days. The 25-year-old local man will face a charge of drink driving in the Queenstown District Court on 4 April.
Serious patient airlifted
A patient was airlifted from Glendhu Bay to Dunedin Hospital in a serious condition by the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter just after 10.30am on Saturday, 1 March. A St John Ambulance spokesperson says they attended an accident on the Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Road at 10.10am, which was believed to have involved a cyclist.
Other helicopter rescues
The rescue helicopter also airlifted a patient in a moderate condition from Mount Aspiring National Park to Invercargill Hospital after an accident just after 2pm on Sunday, 2 March, and a patient in a minor condition from Dumpling Hut in Fiordland National Park at 9.33am that day.
A patient in a minor condition was also airlifted off the Routeburn Track to Lakes District Hospital around 11.30am on Tuesday, 4 March, the St John spokesperson says.
