Crimeline: One person dies in car bus crash Crown Range Road

One person dies in car bus crash Crown Range Road

Police are investigating the cause of a fatal accident between a bus and a car on the Crown Range Road about 10.15am yesterday (15 July) with the road closed for the rest of the day and into the evening.

Otago Lakes Area Road Policing Manager Acting Senior Sergeant Dylan Hannah-Jones says the crash occurred a few kilometres south of Cardrona Village (Queenstown side), near Bridge 10.

While the Queenstown Lakes District Council included the Crown Range and Cardrona in its black ice warnings yesterday morning, Hannah-Jones says Police could not comment on the cause of the crash as they were still conducting their investigations.

The Serious Crash Unit carried out a scene examination and Police were providing support to those involved.

It was confirmed yesterday afternoon that the sole occupant of the car had died at the scene. It’s understood the people in the bus weren’t injured and emergency services couldn’t comment on the size or nature of the bus last night.

Volunteer firefighters turned out from Wanaka and Frankton, three trucks in total, with Queenstown Fire Brigade also called out initially.

“We initially turned out Queenstown (Fire) as there was a bus involved and we weren’t sure how bad things were with poor reception up there,” Fire and Emergency Otago Lakes Group assistant commander Nic McQuillan says. In the end one truck from Frankton and two from Wanaka attended assisting Police at the scene and using hydraulic tools to help.

A St John Ambulance spokesperson says one ambulance and the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter responded to the 10.14am emergency call.

The road was closed for more than nine hours due to the crash, finally reopening at 7.30pm last night with strong warnings for motorists to “take care, slow down and expect winter driving conditions to remain for some time”.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council posted at 7pm that crews were in the final stages of clearing and sweeping the road. Earlier Police and council posts said the road would remain closed between Cardrona township and Eastburn Road until around 7pm with motorists advised to drive around the longer route via State Highway 6 through the Kawarau Gorge and Cromwell.

The first Police notification said initial indications suggested an occupant of the car had serious injuries, but no injuries were reported among occupants of the bus. 

Motorists were to expect delays while emergency services worked at the scene. 

 

Drink driving smash

A 29-year-old Australian man, who recorded a breath alcohol level of 863mcg after a crash on the Arrowtown-Lakes Hayes Road, was sentenced to reparation, a $1000 fine and a one-year disqualification after pleading guilty in the Queenstown District Court on Monday, 13 July, Shute says. Police were called to the collision at 8.45pm on Friday, 10 July, when she says a driver crossed the centreline approaching the intersection with State Highway 6, then continued driving on the wrong side of the road before colliding with an oncoming vehicle. The man was charged with operating a vehicle carelessly and driving with a breath alcohol lever over 400mcg.

 

Police appeal for help in downtown assault

Police are appealing for help from the public in their investigations into an alleged assault on a person around 4.50pm on Monday, 6 July, on Ballarat Street, near the corner with Camp Street. They’re investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and want help identifying two people that they believe may be able to help with their enquiries.

If you are, or know, these people (above), please get in touch with Police.

Anyone who witnessed the assault, has any information on the incident, or has CCTV footage that captures the corner, is urged to contact Police.

Use the 105 service either by phone or online. On the website, click ‘Make a report’.

Please reference file number 260708/8227.

 

Trouble in Searle Lane bar

Police were called to a bar in Searle Lane at 12.55am on Saturday, 11 July, after two men allegedly assaulted staff when they were asked to leave the premises, Constable Amanda Shute says. A 19-year-old Southland man was arrested and charged with injures with intent to injure and impedes breathing. A 20-year-old Southland man was also arrested and charged with injures with intent to injure.

 

Late night disorder

Police were also called to a report of disorder at a commercial premises in Shotover Street at 2.30am on Friday, 10 July, and enquiries are continuing into the circumstances of that, Shute says.

 

Driver positive for drugs

Police are awaiting analysis of an oral fluid test sample after cannabis was smelt in a vehicle stopped at a checkpoint in Queenstown just after 8.15pm on Friday, 10 July. The driver was tested under newly granted Police powers and allegedly returned a positive result for drugs, Shute says.

 

Two car crash – Hawthorne Drive

Two vehicles suffered minor damage after a two-vehicle collision on Hawthorne Drive at 6.30pm last Wednesday, 8 July. Shute says the offending vehicle had allegedly travelled through the Red Oaks-Hawthorne Drive intersection and collided with the rear of the vehicle in front. An infringement notice was issued.

 

Drink driving infringement notices:

24-year-old Queenstown man, 302mcg, Gibbston Highway, 10.30pm, 9 July. 

69-year-old Queenstown woman, 310mcg, Kelvin Heights, 5.56pm, 10 July.