Tasmania breaking news: Man to face court after striking two pedestrians, leaving one in hospital

Police have charged a man following a pedestrian crash in Launceston last week, which left one teen in hospital. The latest.

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Man to face court after striking two pedestrians with car

3.19pm: Tasmania Police have charged an 18-year-old man following a pedestrian crash in Launceston last Friday that left one teen in hospital.

Police said on Friday that the 18-year-old would appear in court charged with assault and causing grievous bodily harm. A date has not yet been confirmed.

Police allege that the man was driving a white Holden Commodore wagon when it struck two pedestrians in the Launceston City Council carpark on the corner of Brisbane and Bathurst streets about 11.50pm on Friday, May 30.

One of the pedestrians, a teenage girl, was flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital with serious leg injuries. She remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Police stated that the driver and the injured teenager are known to each other, and Launceston police are calling for witnesses to the incident, as investigations continue.

Anyone who witnessed the incident in the carpark – sometimes called the Dan Murphy’s carpark – are being asked to contact police.

Relevant dashcam or other footage should also be provided.

Information can be provided by calling police on 131 444, or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au (please quote OR776328).

Crash investigation closes major highway

June 6, 8.21am: Tasmania Police will close part of the Tasman Highway from 10am on Friday as part of a crash investigation.

Tasmania Police announced early on Friday morning that they will be conducting a crash investigation on the Tasman Highway in both directions between 10am and around 10.30am the same day following a serious crash on May 31.

Areas affected will include Cambridge/Sorell bound motorists and Hobart bound motorists.

For Cambridge/Sorell bound motorists, police said a diversion will be in place at the Mornington/Warrane off ramp where all traffic will be diverted off the Tasman Highway onto Cambridge Road.

Traffic will not be able to enter the Tasman Highway from Flagstaff Gully Road.

For Hobart bound motorists, police said traffic will not be able to enter the Tasman Highway to travel toward Hobart from Cambridge Road at the junction of Belbins Road.

Traffic will need to continue along Cambridge Road toward Hobart.

Traffic will not be able to enter onto the Tasman Highway from Acton Road or Richmond Road, with a diversion in place from the relevant roundabouts for all Hobart bound traffic to take Richmond Road, onto Cambridge Road and continue along this road.

Teen facing multiple charges of motor vehicle stealing

9.50AM: Police have charged a 15-year-old boy with motor vehicle stealing after investigating a series of thefts, reckless driving and property damage across Tasmania’s south.

The boy was charged with multiple offences including 12 counts of stealing a motor vehicle and counts of hooning, driving while not the holder of a driver’s license, unlawfully setting fire to property and stealing.

Police arrested and charged the teenager on Tuesday, June 3 after searching his home at Herdsman Cove.

Police allege they found a number of electronic devices which appeared to show the boy had used them to post illegal activities online and to social media.

Police investigations continue and anyone with information about illegal youth activities involving theft and the unlawful use of motor vehicles should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

West Ulverstone man charged after illegal firearm seizure

June 5, 9.50AM: A North-West man has been charged with multiple firearms offences and minor drug-related offences after a search by Tasmania Police.

Police said they seized three gel blasters, a taser, drug paraphernalia and a quantity of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime during a search at a West Ulverstone residence on Tuesday.

A 46-year old West Ulverstone man was arrested and detained to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Anyone with information about illegal firearms is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

Firearms seized during search of West Ulverstone property on Tuesday, June 4. Picture: Tasmania Police

Man accused of downloading 10,000 files of child abuse material

4.35pm: A 67-year-old man has been accused of possessing more than 10,000 files deemed child exploitation material, police say.

Officers said they arrested and charged the man after a raid at a New Norfolk property.

Members of the Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) comprised of the High-Risk Child Exploitation Unit and the Australian Federal Police completed the search, with officers locating and seizing numerous digital devices, police said.

Police said the raid on Wednesday was triggered after child exploitation material being downloaded over a 13-month period from May 2023 was detected.

Officers will allege the files were downloaded and shared.

The New Norfolk man has been bailed to appear at a later date.

Tasmania Police said online child abuse was a serious crime and it was working with its partners to stop these crimes and keep our children safe.

If you have seen inappropriate behaviour online that you suspect is child abuse, report it to police on 131 444 or, call triple-0 (000) if the child is in immediate danger.

Report online to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) https://www.accce.gov.au/report

Police seize chainsaw, ammunition, ice and cannabis

3.20pm: A police raid has uncovered significant quantities of ice and cannabis in the state’s northwest, officers say.

A 43-year-old Devonport man was charged on Tuesday after police raided a Devonport home.

The search warrant was executed by Western Drugs and Firearms Unit and Task Force Scelus, with the support of specialist police resources.

Officers allege finding and seizing 25g of ice, 350g of cannabis, ammunition and a chainsaw believed to have been stolen.

The accused has also been charged with trafficking alleged to have dated back to December last year.

Police said as part of the targeted operation, police have now seized a total of 65 grams of ice, and 1 kilogram of cannabis.

The man has been charged with two counts of trafficking in controlled substance, possessing a controlled drug, dealing with proceeds of crime, possessing ammunition when not the holder of a firearms licence and unlawful possession of property.

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court this afternoon.

Drugs seized after dog patrols in Glenorchy

June 4, 9am: High visibility police patrols continue in Glenorchy in an effort to reduce anti-social behaviour in the retail strip.

Speaking after a high visibility patrols by police dog handlers on Tuesday afternoon that resulted in several arrests, Sergeant Iain Shepherd said handlers searched 12 people resulting in the seizure of drugs and three people were allegedly found in possession of knives and other weapons.

Those drugs reportedly included methylamphetamine and cannabis.

“A 48-year-old man from Bridgewater wanted on stealing charges was located and interviewed and another 48-year-old man from Bridgewater was arrested for consuming alcohol and engaging in disorderly conduct,” Sergeant Shepherd said.

“The man was bailed before being arrested again a short time later for attempted stealing.

“He was banned from entering all Coles stores for one year and will appear in court at a later date.

“Five other individuals also received formal directions to leave the Glenorchy CBD due to their behaviour.

“In addition, several youths were spoken to, and those found in possession of drugs will be dealt with through youth diversion programs.”

Meanwhile in the northwest, two boys have been accused of an alleged assault in the Devonport CBD.

The youths have been bailed to appear at the Devonport Youth Justice Court at a later date.

Devonport Police Acting Inspector Luke Negri said everyone in the Devonport CBD had a right and expectation to feel safe.

“Tasmania Police are committed to ensuring public safety and will not tolerate any disruptive or harmful behaviour from anyone,” he said.

“Offenders, including youths, will be held to account for their actions and behaviour.”

Anyone who witnesses concerning activity is encouraged to report it to police on 131 444 or call triple-0 (000) if it is an emergency.

Woman dies from injuries inflicted from NW crash

June 3, 3pm: A 78-year-old has died after battling injures inflicted from a crash last week, police confirm.

The woman was the driver of a Toyota Corolla hatch involved in a crash with a Ford F250 truck at the intersection of Wragg and Falmouth Sts at Somerset on May 27.

Police said the driver was taken to the North West Regional Hospital at the time of the crash.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Officers said investigations were ongoing.

Anyone with information or dashcam is asked to contact Western Crash Investigation Services on 131 444 and quote reference ESCAD 199-27052025 and OR776030.

Originally published as Tasmania breaking news: Man to face court after striking two pedestrians, leaving one in hospital