Police wrap: Elderly man dies in crash | Man stabbed in back at Murray Bridge | Woman charged with drink driving
An elderly man has died after crashing into a tree at Elliston on the Eyre Peninsula. FOLLOW OUR ROLLING POLICE WRAP.
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SATURDAY
MAN DIES IN CRASH AT ELLISTON
An elderly man has died after crashing into a tree on a stretch of highway on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula.
Emergency services were called to the Flinders Highway at Elliston, 3km south of Three Lakes Rd, just after 10.30am on Saturday.
The 92-year-old driver of the car was treated at the scene but died from his injuries.
The Flinders Highway is closed with traffic diverted onto Silo Rd to Colton Back Rd and then back to the Flinders Highway.
Major Crash Investigators are making their way to the scene of the crash from Adelaide.
Twenty eight lives have been lost on SA roads compared to twenty five at the same time last year.
SERIOUS CRASH
Police and emergency services are responding to a serious crash in the northern suburbs.
At least one person has suffered serious injuries in a crash between three cars at the intersection of Waterloo Corner Rd and Grand Junction Rd just after 3pm on Saturday.
Major Crash investigators will be attending the scene.
MAN STABBED IN THE BACK
A man is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in the back following a suspected altercation with another man in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police and paramedics were called to Weigall Ave Murray Bridge just after 5.30am on Saturday.
They arrived to find a 32-year-old man who had suffered a single non-life threatening stab wound to his back.
He was taken to the Murray Bridge Hospital for treatment.
Police are investigating the incident with initial reports suggesting the man was involved in a dispute with another man in the front yard of a house shortly before the stabbing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or by going online.
DRINK DRIVER NABBED AT MURRAY BRIDGE
A Morphett Vale woman driving with an astounding alcohol reading of almost five times the legal limit has been arrested and lost her licence for 12 months.
Police stopped the 25-year-old as she was driving on Maurice Rd in Murray Bridge just after 7pm on Friday.
She was stopped for a random roadside breath test and returned a blood alcohol reading of .248.
She was arrested, charged with drink driving and handed an immediate 12 month loss of licence.
She will be summonsed to appear in court.
Earlier on Friday a 31-year-old Port Pirie man was also detected drink driving but with two unrestrained infants in the car including a four-year-old lying across the parcel shelf on the back window.
CBD BUSINESSES VANDALISED
A man allegedly seen kicking and breaking the windows of three shops in the city has been arrested.
Just before midnight on Friday police were called to Gouger St where the man was seen damaging two cafes and a takeaway business near the Central Market while heading east.
Officers searched for the suspected vandal before being directed towards Bentham St were a man was being monitored on police cameras.
The 19-year-old Elizabeth Downs man was charged with three counts of property damage and bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in April.
FRIDAY
Road spikes have been used to stop a police chase in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
Just before 9am, a police patrol attempted to stop a blue Hyundai sedan on Sturt Road Warradale, but the male driver refused.
The car was followed through the back streets of Warradale, through the Westfield Marion carpark, on to Diagonal Rd, and up to the Southern Expressway to Reynella, where it exited on Panalatinga Rd.
Police used road spikes at Peach St, puncturing tyres, but the Hyundai sedan continued until it was dumped east to Woodcroft, where it was dumped and the driver ran off.
Dog patrols were called in, and a short time later the suspect, a 30-year-old man from Maslin Beach, was located hiding in Victoria Ave.
He was arrested and charged with with driving to evade police and driving unlicensed.
THURSDAY
SERIOUS CRASH AT GLENELG NORTH
A motorcyclist has died after crashing into a car in Adelaide's western suburbs.
The crash happened on Alison St in Glenelg North just before 1.30pm today.
It is believed the motorbike slammed into a parked car.
Major Crash officers are examining the scene, with Alison Rd closed from Anzac Highway to Russell St.
FINKS TO FACE COURT
Three members of the Finks bikie gang will face court after allegedly meeting up at a Mannum petrol station this month.
Police also seized a small cache of weapons and a cannabis plant at one of the member’s homes.
It is alleged the three men were riding as a group before stopping together at a Mannum service station on Sunday March 8.
Police attended their homes on Thursday morning and arrested the trio – a 56-year-old from Craigmore, a 43-year-old from Elizabeth East and a 25-year-old from Burton.
Under state laws, it is illegal for three or more members of a bikie gang to be together in public.
At the Craigmore man’s house, police allegedly found a flick knife, baton, two pairs of nunchakus, insecure ammunition and a cannabis plant.
All three men were bailed to appear in the Murray Bridge Magistrates Court in May.
WOMAN FACING FIREARMS CHARGE
A woman has been arrested after police found a sawn-off shotgun and a stolen motorbike in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Police searched a Salisbury East home about 6.30pm on Wednesday and found the shotgun in pieces as well as ammunition and the motorbike.
The woman, 34, of Smithfield Plains, was charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition without a licence.
She was refused bail and appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday, as investigations continue.
LASERS POINTED AT AIRCRAFT
Police have slammed the “extremely dangerous” behaviour of two people who pointed green lasers at aircraft flying over Renmark and in the state’s South East this week.
One pilot flying over the Kingston SE area noticed the laser about 9.25pm on Wednesday.
Separately, another pilot flying over Renmark West also had a laser pointed at his plane, just four kilometres north of the airfield.
Both planes landed safely, but police said it was “extremely dangerous” behaviour.
“It poses a serious risk to pilots on their vision and flying”.
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
MEN CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two men have been arrested after police allegedly found several kilograms of dried cannabis and more than 10 grams of MDMA inside their car.
Officer searched their car at Waikerie in the Riverland and found the drugs about 5pm on Wednesday.
This discovery led officers from the Organised Crime branch to search two Davoren Park homes, where they allegedly found cannabis cultivating equipment and 10 hydroponic plants.
Two men, aged 53 and 28, both of Davoren Park, were charged with two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
The men were granted bail to appear in the Berri Magistrates Court in May.
WEDNESDAY
CHARGE OVER HILLS WATER THEFT
Police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing water from a pipeline to help irrigate an Adelaide Hills vineyard.
Several properties at Birdwood, Gumeracha and Mt Torrens were searched on February 25 during a joint SA Police and SA Water investigation.
It will be alleged a Birdwood man stole water from the Mannum to Adelaide pipeline and used it to supplement a dam that irrigated a vineyard.
The 65-year-old was arrested and charged with theft and bailed to appear in the Mt Barker Magistrates Court next week.
Police said the investigation was ongoing and asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
MAN CHARGED OVER HOUSE FIRE, ARMED BREAK-IN
A man has been arrested after jumping from the second storey of a burning townhouse and allegedly using an axe to smash his way into a neighbour’s home.
Police allege the man deliberately set fire to the townhouse, on Jack Johnson Court, Renown Park, about 12.30am on Wednesday.
More than 20 firefighters extinguished the blaze, but it completely destroyed the home – with the damage bill estimated at $250,000.
Police say the man, 33, of West Croydon, jumped from the second storey to escape the inferno before breaking into a house across the road.
Nearby resident Sonja Willmott saw him jump on a 4WD parked in the driveway before smashing the home’s window with an axe, terrifying an innocent woman and her adult son inside.
“He cut himself pretty badly and (there’s) blood everywhere all through her house and glass has just been smashed everywhere,” Ms Willmott said.
It took police about an hour to subdue and arrest the alleged arsonist, who had locked himself inside. He was treated by ambulance officers.
Ms Willmott said the owner of the burning townhouse didn’t return until after the fire had done its damage.
“She got home in a taxi to this, to nothing, poor love, she only moved in about a week and a half ago.”
A police spokesman said the arrested man, who is charged with arson and aggravated serious criminal trespass, is known to the owner.
He is expected to face the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Behind the charred townhouse lives mother Amanda-Lee Miniken, who said the flames reached the edge of her home, where her baby was sleeping inside.
“I was asleep, I woke up and I heard glass smashing … and I could smell something,” she said.
“I got up, had my phone in my hand, went out the back and the whole unit was on fire, top to bottom.
“I rang the fire brigade, went inside (and) grabbed the kids.”
Police are asking further witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
ARREST OVER ALLEGED-CAR-JACKING
A man has been arrested for allegedly carjacking a woman in a bizarre attack in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
Police say the man, 37, jumped in front of a moving Hyundai, forcing it to stop on Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, just after 10pm on Tuesday.
It is further alleged he then punched in the windows, as a passing motorist stopped to check if the occupants of the Hyundai were okay.
The 37-year-old then made a dash for the good Samaritan’s car, a Ford Territory, but he was unable to start it.
He then turned his attention back to the Hyundai and carjacked the woman inside, police allege.
The car was found a short time later on Port Rd in Beverley with the keys still in the ignition.
No one was physically hurt during the ordeal and the alleged attacker was expected to be charged late Wednesday afternoon.
FATAL CRASH IN RIVERLAND
A Riverland man has died in a vehicle rollover near Blanchetown.
Emergency services, including the rescue helicopter, were called to Hunter Rd, Paisley, around 6.30pm on Tuesday.
They found a 40-year-old man trapped in a Holden station wagon in a paddock.
Efforts to save the man were unsuccessful and he died at the scene.
Major Crash officers are investigating.
The road will remain closed until their inquiries are completed.
The death takes the state’s road toll for the year from 25 to 26.
TUESDAY
CLAN LAB LANDS MAN IN COURT
A man was arrested after police discovered a secret meth lab in Adelaide’s western suburbs on Monday.
Serious and Organised Crime Branch officers charged the Woodville West man, 39, and with manufacturing a controlled drug. He appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Chief Inspector Jon Halliday issued a stern warning for drug lab operators.
“People who manufacture or sell illicit drugs can face penalties of up to a $500,000 fine or life imprisonment, and can also have assets, such as houses or cars, seized,” he said.