Crimeline: Police hunt offender in violent assault
The spate of violent assaults continues with a man seriously assaulted in a Brecon Street bar at just after 6.15pm on Saturday, 16 November.
Constable Amanda Shute says the victim had been shoved from behind by an unknown male, who then allegedly grabbed his head with one hand and punched him in the mouth using the other hand.
“The punch has caused injury to the victim’s mouth, dislodging two teeth,” Shute says. The suspect had left the scene prior to Police arriving and inquiries are ongoing to identify and locate him with help from CCTV footage.
Bus passenger verbally abused and threatened
Trouble also erupted on a local bus service at 2.45pm last Wednesday, 13 November, after a 39-year-old man allegedly shouted and swore at another passenger on the bus, Shute says. The man was arrested and charged with threatening behaviour. He’s due to appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday (25 November).
Jucy van rolls at bungy bridge entrance
The North American driver of a Jucy Rentals van was flown to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries on Saturday, 16 November, after the van rolled when the driver allegedly pulled out in front of a vehicle onto State Highway 6, Police say.
Otago Lakes Central road policing manager Senior Sergeant Steve Watt says the tourist driver allegedly failed to give way pulling out of the AJ Hackett Bungy Centre, colliding with a vehicle travelling towards Gibbston. The two-vehicle collision caused the van to roll and come to rest on its roof. A St John spokesperson says they were notified of the accident at 12pm.
A helicopter, one ambulance and an operations manager attended. Another patient with minor injuries was transported to Lakes District Hospital by ambulance. Two further patients, both with minor injuries, were assessed and treated at the scene.
Moped driver skittled on Frankton Road
A moped driver also sustained moderate injuries after a vehicle pulled out of a driveway and into the opposite lane on Frankton Road at 8.10pm on Thursday, 14 November. Shute says the vehicle pulled out in front of the moped, which was travelling along Frankton Road, knocking the driver off the bike. The moped driver was taken to Lakes District
Hospital for treatment, while the offending driver was issued with a written warning for careless driving.
Tricky mountain biker rescue on Skyline Hill
A young male mountain biker suffered moderate injuries after his bike slipped off 5m off a very tricky, steep and technical section of a trail at the adventure park up Skyline Hill just before 2pm on Saturday, 16 November. Rescuers couldn’t get to him in the wet slippery conditions.
Fire crews and St John attended and Fire and Emergency NZ regional commander Nic McQuillan says the fire and ambulance crews eventually used a special rescue stretcher (Stokes basket) and rescue lines to retrieve him up to the path.
A St John spokesman says the man was assessed at the scene and taken to Lakes District Hospital by ambulance in a moderate condition. Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team coordinator Russ Tilsley says they were called to assist due to the tricky terrain and put on standby, however, the fire crews were able to rescue him, and they were stood down
Inquiries continue into fire near airport
Police inquiries are continuing into the scrub fire adjacent to Queenstown Airport on Sunday, 17 November, at 3pm. Police and fire crews were called to the undeveloped land behind Woolworths supermarket and firefighters from three fire trucks thankfully got two fires at the scene under control quickly.
Drink driving
A 24-year-old local man blew 919mcg when he was stopped by Police at 1.35am on Saturday, 16 November. His licence was suspended for 28 days, and he will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 6 December.
A 21-year-old Christchurch woman blew 772mcg when stopped by Police at 12.30am on Sunday, 17 November. She was also charged and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 6 December.
Patient airlifted from Kingston
St John was also called to a non-motor vehicle incident in Kingston just before midday last Thursday, 14 November. A helicopter and ambulance responded, and a spokesperson says one patient was airlifted to Southland Hospital. They were unable to provide a condition or further details.
