Tasmania breaking news: Police rescue helicopter sent to Mount Gnomon after fall

A helicopter has been deployed to rescue a person involved in a fall at Mount Gnomon, in the state’s North West.

Tasmania Police. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

For the latest, follow The Beat, the Mercury’s live breaking news blog with the latest traffic, police, fire and ambulance news across the state.

Chopper rescue for fall in North West

A helicopter is being used in Tasmania’s North-West to rescue a person who has fallen at Mount Gnomon, south of Penguin.

Police say search and rescue ground crews are on the way to help a person who has fallen in an area in the Dial Range.

A spokesperson said police in a ground crew had reached the area and were communicating with the person.

“At this stage, the persons’ injuries are not yet known,” the spokesperson said.

200km/h joy ride, car fire: Teen accused of crime spree nabbed

October 27: A 17-year-old who allegedly committed a crime spree of motor vehicle stealings, including taking a stolen car on a near 200km/h joy ride, and setting a car on fire, has been caught.

Police allege the teenager entered several unlocked eastern shore homes at night, with the offences said to have been committed throughout the last month.

Police say the teenager would allegedly take the keys to cars which were later stolen.

Detective Sergeant Felicity Boyd said it was an unfortunate reality that unlocked homes and vehicles were prime targets for criminals.

“ … We cannot be any clearer about the importance of people keeping their cars and houses locked – even when at home,” Detective Sergeant Boyd said.

The teenager has been charged with:

> Seven counts of home burglaries

> Eight counts of motor vehicle stealings

> Ten counts of drive while disqualified

Sergeant Boyd said the teenager was also charged with setting fire to one of the stolen cars, hooning and dangerous driving.

“ … With police alleging he drove at speeds of close to 200km/h, while recording himself on a mobile phone on two separate occasions,” she said.

Serious crash leaves motorcycle rider with head injuries

October 26: A motorcycle rider was left with serious head injuries after they went off the road at White Hills yesterday evening.

The crash occurred on Blessington Road about 4:50pm on Wednesday.

The rider was rushed to the Launceston General Hospital and was later transferred to the Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Man hit with burglary, stealing charges

October 25: A Rosebery man will appear in a northern court after an alleged string of burglary and stealing offences.

The 36-year-old allegedly committed multiple motor vehicle burglaries in Rosebery, before then stealing a white Hyundai Elantra, police say.

He was reportedly involved in various burglary and stealing matters between Rosebery and Devonport.

He will appear in Devonport Magistrates Court today.

Woman’s drunken crash ends in disqualification

October 25: A woman five times the legal limit has been hit with drink driving charges after a midmorning crash alerted police.

The 43-year-old was found to have a blood-alcohol content reading of .267 – more than five times the limit – after the crash near Cambridge on Tuesday morning.

Nobody was injured in the crash.

Tasmania Police said the woman was immediately disqualified from driving for 12 months and was charged.

She will appear in court on a date unspecified.

Drunk learner driver put ‘passenger in danger: Police

October 25: A 27-year-old learner driver pulled up for an RBT has been charged with high range drink driving, with police condemning the alleged act.

The man returned a reading of .140 – nearly three times the legal limit – at a random breath test site in Sandy Bay on Monday night.

A passenger was in the car at the time.

He was charged and immediately disqualified from driving for three months and was bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Senior Sergeant Adam Leary of Southern District Support Services said a learner driver with this level of alcohol in their system was “really disappointing” to see.

“He put not only his passenger in danger, but all other road users as well,” he said.

“Driving with alcohol in your system is one of the ‘fatal five’ factors in road crash trauma and the consequences could have been devastating.”

‘No regard’: Call for details as $50k in cigarettes stolen

October 24, 3.35pm: Police are on the hunt for information after three shops were targeted, with an estimated $50k in cigarettes stolen.

A Bellerive service station, a Lauderdale bottle shop and a Lindisfarne supermarket were all targeted, with Tasmania Police saying an estimated $50k worth of cigarettes were stolen.

They estimate $25k in damage has been caused.

Detective Sergeant Boyd from Bellerive CIB said offenders had “no regard” for the impact their crimes have on local communities.

“Anyone with information about these incidents, or the subsequent illegal sale of cigarettes is asked to contact police, or Crime Stoppers anonymously,” she said.

Information can be provided to Bellerive CIB on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au.

‘Rotten egg’: Fireys investigating ‘hazmat’ incident

Updated: Northwestern fireys are scouring a commercial building for a potential “hazmat” incident after a “rotten egg” smell was detected wafting through the site.

William St between Best St and Oldaker St in Devonport has now been opened to pedestrians, but fireys remain on the scene conducting investigations.

A TFS spokesperson said personnel had conducted “readings” for different types of gas in the building, and would soon do another sweep of the site.

It is understood the building, which is of commercial use, has a “rotten egg smell” wafting through it.

October 24, 1.41pm:

Pedestrians in a northwestern Tasmanian town have been warned to avoid a part of the CBD as fireys investigate a potential “hazmat” situation.

Tasmania Police asked pedestrians to avoid the area of William St between Best St and Oldaker in Devonport.

The area is currently closed.

“William Street, Devonport between Best Street and Oldaker Street is currently closed while Tasmania Fire Service investigate a potential hazmat incident within a premises,” Tasmania Police said.

More to come.

Seized: Hooning teen off roads after breakneck 185km/h highway evade

A 17-year-old P plater will be off the roads after evading police at breakneck speeds along a main Tasmanian highway.

Tasmania Police say that at 12.13am on Saturday, October 21, they tried to intercept a vehicle driving on the East Derwent Highway at Bridgewater.

But the car did not stop, and instead evaded police.

The 17yo had his car seized for six months. Photo: Brett Wortman / Sunshine Coast Daily

The car was seen speeding along the Midlands Highway at 185km/h in a 110km/h zone.

“Later the same day the police seized the offending vehicle for an initial period of six months,” Tasmania Police said.

The 17-year-old driver will be summons for offences of evade police (aggravated), exceeding the speed limit by 75km/h and negligent driving.

Tasmania Police said hooning, speeding, illegal or dangerous driving would not be tolerated.

They asked that motorists report dangerous driving behaviour to Tasmania Police on 131 44 or via Crimestoppers Tasmania.

NSW driver hauled to court for ‘dangerous’ Burnie evade

A late-night evade has ended with a middle-aged man ordered to appear in court after an alleged spate of dangerous driving in a northwest town.

A 38-year-old man will face court later this year for alleged dangerous driving and evade police in Burnie on Friday, October 20.

At about 11pm police say the man, who was said to be driving a dark grey Mitsubishi Pajero with NSW registration plates evaded police on Mount St, Burnie.

The car then continued at speed, heading West along the Bass Highway at Parklands.

“It was observed overtaking numerous vehicles and driving erratically,” Tasmania Police said.

Police have asked members of the community who have dashcam footage, or who witnessed the incident, to come forward.

To report, contact Burnie Police on 131 444 or go on the Crimestoppers Tasmania website and quote OR 725945.

Originally published as Tasmania breaking news: Police rescue helicopter sent to Mount Gnomon after fall