Officer saves man trapped in burning vehicle in Alice Springs

An NT police officer has saved a man’s life after pulling him from the burning wreckage of his vehicle in Alice Springs. WATCH THE VIDEO

AN NT police officer has saved a man’s life after pulling him from the burning wreckage of his car in Alice Springs on Friday morning.

A 53-year-old man is believed to have suffered a medical episode while on the way to work resulting in a single vehicle crash into vacant land off Larapinta Dr just before 8am.

Two officers were in the area at the time when they heard the crash and saw a cloud of dust over the scene.

The pair were among the first to arrive on the scene and immediately ran to the crashed vehicle to remove the man from his burning ute.

By this time the cab had filled with smoke and a fire in the engine bay was getting bigger.

The officers managed to safely pull the driver out of the burning vehicle and along with a member of the public carried the man to the footpath for treatment.

Officers stayed with the man until the paramedics arrived, who then transported the driver to the Alice Springs Hospital for treatment.

Police rescue man trapped in burning vehicle in Alice Springs. Picture: PFES Media

The officer who wishes to remain anonymous said he was only doing his job.

“I ran over and immediately saw the engine bay was on fire and I couldn’t get to the driver’s side door because of the fire,” said the officer.

“I went to the passenger door, but I could only partially open it because of the angle of the car.

“Then two guys helped by ripping the door open and I was able to lean in and pushed the airbags away.

“I saw the driver, who was semi-conscious, so I started to chat with him and told him to lift his legs out of the foot-well so I could get him out.”

“Thankfully his legs weren’t caught in the foot-well. If his legs had been stuck it would have been horrific. That’s what we go to work for every day, it’s the positive results.”

Shoppers allegedly threatened and bottled

NT Police are calling for information after two people were allegedly threatened and their vehicle bottled as they were leaving a shopping centre in Darwin on Thursday evening.

Police say around 6.45pm two people in the centre on Smith Street were approached by a couple who verbally threatened them. The parties were not known to each other.

Store security became involved and the couple who had been shopping went to their vehicle.

As they were leaving the shopping centre a bottle was allegedly thrown at their vehicle causing minor damage, according to police.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 131 444 or make an anonymous report via Crime Stoppers.

The two people who allegedly threatened the couple are described as an Aboriginal male, tall, solid build, 20-30 years old and wearing dark clothing and an Aboriginal female, tall, solid build, 20-30 years old and wearing dark clothing.

Anyone with any information is urged to call police on 131 444 or make an anonymous report via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Lasseter Highway closed after truck rollover

NT Police have closed the Lasseter Highway to all traffic following a single vehicle rollover involving a truck transporting gas, on Thursday afternoon.

Police are advising motorists to avoid travel in the area, which is 70km west of the Erldunda intersection, as a 100m exclusion zone has been implemented around the crash scene, effectively blocking the Lasseter Highway to all traffic.

Police, Fire and Rescue Services responded to the report of the crash just after 2pm on Thursday.

The driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, was transported to the Yulara clinic with non-life threatening injuries to his upper body.

Fire and Rescue crews arrived on scene and found a slow gas leak, which was unable to be rendered safe.

The road in this areas is expected to be closed overnight until the truck can be safely recovered on Friday.

Man arrested over strong of alleged offences

A 43-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested and charged in relation to multiple criminal offences across Alice Springs.

The man was wanted in relation to a dangerous driving incident in which he failed to stop during a traffic pursuit with police on February 25.

It is alleged that on March 1 the man caused criminal damage to a Sadadeen property before unlawfully entering and stealing items from within the premises.

It is further alleged the man threatened a witness in relation to this incident.

The man was later located and arrested on Tuesday morning.

The man was taken to the Alice Springs Watch House where he was charged with disqualified driving, driving in a dangerous manner during pursuit, damage to property, robbery and interfering with a witness.

The man has been remanded in custody to appear before court on March 30.

Arrest made after elderly man allegedly robbed, bashed

NT Police have arrested an 18-year-old female after a group of people allegedly broke into an apartment in Alice Springs and bashed and robbed an elderly man.

Around 2am on March 11, a group of people allegedly trespassed into an apartment complex on Gap Road and were observed acting in a suspicious manner.

Police say around half an hour later, the group allegedly broke into an occupied room before physically assaulting the occupant and stealing a number of items from his room.

The group then allegedly fled the area.

The victim, a 63-year-old man, suffered some cuts and bruising as a result of the incident.
Police say investigations to identify others involved continue.

Cops allegedly catch 21yo hiding ‘large sword’ in shrubs

A YOUNG man has been charged for allegedly going armed in public with a large sword.

Just before 2am on Saturday, Alice Springs police responded to a report of a disturbance on Todd Street.

When officers arrived on scene they allegedly observed a 21-year-old man attempting to hide a large sword in nearby shrubbery before leaving the scene.

Officers seized the weapon and arrested the man shortly after.

Police say he was taken to the Alice Springs watch house and charged with one count of Going Armed in Public.

The man is scheduled to appear before court at a later date.

Stolen vehicle recovered after pursuit

A STOLEN car has led police on a pursuit through Alice Springs, resulting in the arrest of four females, including three youths.

Police received a report of a stolen Holden Captiva, which was swiped in the early hours of Sunday morning from Mueller St in East Side.

“(On Monday morning) just after 5.30am, the Holden Captiva was sighted by police in the vicinity of Hidden Valley (town camp),” said NT Police Southern Watch Commander Vicki Koum.

“The vehicle failed to stop when police tried to apprehend it or trap it. A pursuit then commenced.

The Holden Captiva was stolen from East Side in Alice Springs. Picture: Supplied.

“Not long after the pursuit started, the stolen vehicle was successfully spiked by out tyre deflation devices and the occupants fled. However, four were located and arrested, being one adult and three youths.”

Commander Koum said all four females were in custody with charges expected to be laid on Monday morning.

She said there was one further alleged offender outstanding.

Originally published as Officer saves man trapped in burning vehicle in Alice Springs