Street Watch Whitehorse: Man seen lighting fire in Box Hill

A man was seen lighting a fire on a patch of garden in Box Hill, before running away after being spotted. Read about that incident and more in our local crime wrap for Whitehorse.

Traffic on Station st near the Whitehorse rd intersection. Wednesday, July 12. 2017. Picture: David Crosling

A man was seen lighting a fire on a busy street in Box Hill, before running away after being spotted.

Firefighters rushed to extinguish the fire on the corner of Harrow and Station streets — just a couple hundred metres from Box Hill Central — after a witness called emergency services about 10.02pm last night.

The informant told police they had seen a man light a fire in a patch of garden on the streets’corner.

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The told police they called out to the offender, who reportedly then fled the scene on foot.

The MFB quickly attended and extinguished the fire.

Box Hill police were also on scene.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Box Hill police on 8892 3200.

The fire was lit on the corner of Station Street. Picture: David Crosling

In other local crime news:

BURWOOD

Police are reminding motorists to drive to the weather conditions after a van skidded across Burwood Highway on Tuesday, March 12.

A 39-year-old Bayswater North man was driving a Mitsubishi van along the highway about 12.25pm when he accelerated too heavily and changed gears as he took off from a green light near Blackburn Rd, according to Nunawading highway patrol Sergeant Paul Egan.

Sgt Egan said the back of the van slid out in the wet conditions, causing the vehicle to hit the concrete barrier in the centre of the road.

The man then overcorrected the van, sending it across the three lanes of the highway and into a tree in someone’s front garden.

The driver had to be taken to Box Hill Hospital. Picture: David Crosling

The driver was taken to Box Hill Hospital with minor injuries and was handed an fine for not having full control of his vehicle.

Sgt Egan said it was lucky no other vehicles were caught up in the incident.

He has reminded drivers summer was over and more wet weather was on the way.

He said drivers should leave double the usual amount of space between cars when the roads were wet.

VERMONT SOUTH

A motorcyclist had to be taken to hospital after a driver failed to give way to him on Wednesday, March 13.

A 32-year-old Mildura man heading out of the Burvale Hotel carpark about 9.30am turned left onto Springvale Rd without giving way to a 61-year-old Blackburn South motorcyclist already travelling down the road.

The motorbike crashed into the car and the rider was taken to the Alfred Hospital with minor injuries.

Sgt Egan said the driver of the car would be handed a fine for failing to give way. He said the incident was caused purely because the man had not been paying proper attention to the road.

BOX HILL

A 65-year-old male from Box Hill South was cycling in the bike lane on Thurston St, Box Hill on Monday, March 11 about 9.08am when he was hit by a driver who neglected to give way.

The driver of a Mercedes did not stop at the stop sign at the street’s intersection with Cambidge St, according to Sgt Egan.

The collision sent the cyclist off his bike before he was taken to Box Hill Hospital but not admitted.

Sgt Egan said the incident could have been avoided had the driver paid proper attention to the road and kept “a good look out” for vulnerable road users.

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He said he expected the driver to be issued with an infringement.

WHITEHORSE

Police were out in full force in Whitehorse over Labor Day weekend, conducting 3348 preliminary alcohol breath tests across the municipality.

Only eight drivers were found to be drink driving or on other drugs from Friday, March 8 to Monday, March 11.

Nunawading highway patrol Sergeant Paul Egan said 465 offences were recorded for other offences such as speeding, using a phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt.