Tasmania breaking news: Police hunt driver involved in fatal crash at Yolla
A driver involved in a serious crash, which left one person dead, has reportedly fled the scene, sparking a police chase. The latest.
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Police respond to serious crash between motorcycle and car
UPDATED: A three-vehicle crash in the state’s North-West has turned fatal after police confirmed a person has died.
Emergency services remain at the scene following the crash, involving one motorcycle and two cars, on Friday morning.
“Our thoughts are with the person’s family and loved ones at this difficult time,” the police spokesperson said.
They said police were contiuing to search for a driver involved in the crash, who had fled the scene.
Road closuers at the scene on the Murchison Highway at Yolla are set to be in place for some time.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
EARLIER: A driver involved in a crash that has seriously injured a person has fled the scene, police say.
A Tasmania Police spokesperson said officers were on the hunt for the person who ran from the scene.
The serious crash has been confirmed to have involved two cars and a motorbike on the Murchison Highway at Yolla.
One person involved in the collision has reportedly sustained serious injuries.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been dispatched.
INITIAL: A serious crash between a car and motorcycle in North-West Tasmania has been reported to Police on Friday morning.
Emergency services are responding to the incident at Murchison Highway, Yolla, which was reported around 9.25am.
Tasmania Police reported the crash was near propoerty No. 1794 on the highway. Police have asked motorists to avoid the area until the scene is cleared.
A police spokesperson said details of injuries are not yet known.
Thunderstorms could cause flash flooding, SES warns
December 13, 10am
Tasmanians have been warned to prepare for thunderstorms and flashflooding, which are expected to move across the state today.
State Emergency Service (SES) assistant director Leon Smith said the weather activity was expected to begin on the West Coast this morning, as far as Strahan, before stretching to the north coast toward Bridport.
“The system is then expected to move to the south of the state early this afternoon,” Mr Smith said.
“With thunderstorm activity comes the potential for flash flooding in localised areas.
Mr Smith said children should be supervised during the weather event, pets and livestock should be managed, outdoor furniture and play equipment should be secured and motorists should beware of damaged trees or power lines.
“Remember, if you’re in an area that becomes affected by heavy rains, advice from Tasmania Police is to be safe on the roads, slow down, put your headlights on, and never drive through a flooded road,” Mr Smith said.
‘Worried’: Fireys tackle house fire on suburban street
December 12, 1.35pm: Concerned residents of a South Launceston street have flocked outside as fireys work to extinguish a blaze that has broken out in a home.
Smoke is billowing from the roof of the Eardley St residence.
Tasmania Fire Service issued a smoke alert for the area, asking locals to avoid the surrounding areas.
“Smoke from this fire is visible in the Eardley St and surrounding areas,” a TFS spokesperson said.
Eardley St is blocked between Glenelg and Wellington Sts.
The house fire, which is understood to have started at about 1pm, has engulfed the right-hand side of 24 Eardley St.
Neighbour, Trisha, who asked that her last name not be published, said she had woken up to a “banging” next door.
“I’m a bit worried about my house at the moment,” she said.
Dianne, who lives across the road from 24 Eardley St and also requested her surname be withheld, was the one who first spotted the fire.
“I noted outside [the] window that it looked really hazy out there. I couldn’t actually see out the window,” she said.
“When I got up and actually had a look, all I could see was acrid, black smoke coming out the roof.
“My husband and I ran out. I banged on the neighbour’s doors first to get them out, then we were banging on the front door of the house on fire because there are usually kids home.
“We grabbed the cat.
“Some tradies were working around here, they came and helped, tried to hose down the roof but it was just impossible.”
Pedestrian hit near northern Tasmanian mall
Updated, 1.15pm: The pedestrian earlier involved in a crash near a Devonport mall has been taken to hospital.
The crash, which happened on Rooke St, at Devonport, has now been cleared, Tasmania Police said.
A police spokeswoman said the injuries were not listed as serious.
December 12: A pedestrian has been struck near a mall at Devonport, with police on the scene.
Tasmania Police in a statement said they had officers at the scene of the crash on Rooke St, Devonport, near the mall.
The pedestrian has reportedly been struck by a vehicle.
They are receiving medical treatment at the scene.
Motorists are asked to avoid the area until the scene is cleared, police said.
The severity of injuries is yet unknown.
Drunk driver’s wild moments before arrest
December 11, 2023: A drunken motorist who overtook police before swerving across a Tasmanian highway, narrowly avoiding other drivers has been arrested.
The man, from Sassafras, overtook police who were conducting mobile patrols along the Bass Highway at Don on December 10.
He was then spotted swerving across the road, missing multiple other cars, police said.
The driver was intercepted and was later found to have an alcohol reading of .187 – more than three times the legal limit.
Tasmania Police said the man was then charged with exceed 0.06, drive whilst under the influence of an intoxicating liquor and driving while disqualified.
He was bailed to appear in Devonport Magistrates Court on February 5, 2024.
Acting Sergeant Hardy said road users should “not get complacent” in their duty to take care on the roads, and to keep each other safe.
Originally published as Tasmania breaking news: Police hunt driver involved in fatal crash at Yolla
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