Tasmania breaking news: 17-year-old fronts Burnie Youth Justice Court over alleged doctor stabbing

Teen fronts court over alleged doctor stabbing in Tassie’s north-west, burnout hoon busted and MORE breaking news >>

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Teen fronts court over alleged doctor stabbing

April 11:

A 17-year-old boy has been charged over the alleged stabbing of a doctor at North West Regional Hospital.

He was expected to face Burnie Youth Justice Court late on Monday.

The teen was charged with wounding and two counts of threatening police.

Tasmania Police were called to the scene at 4.30pm on Sunday and the teen was arrested shortly thereafter.

The “traumatic” attack resulted in the doctor being flown to Royal Hobart Hospital in a critical condition.

His condition has since been downgraded to stable.

More to come.

Car impounded after hooning

A Pontville man is expected to be hit with a string of dangerous driving charges after he was caught hooning at a Bridgewater industrial estate.

The 20-year-old was arrested on Saturday after Bridgewater police tracked a silver Ford Falcon sedan performing “burn outs” in Crooked Billet Dr shortly before midnight.

The driver’s vehicle was impounded by police.

Bridgewater Police Inspector Philipa Burk said hooning “could easily cause a serious crash if a vehicle loses control”.

“It demonstrates a blatant disregard for the safety of other motoring public on the roads at the time, the safety of police and the driver’s own safety,” she said.

“It also shows a blatant disregard for the road rules.

“At the time of this offence the weather was extremely inclement, further adding to the risk.”

Inspector Burk said police were urging the community to “do the right thing” and “call out this behaviour” to “work together to keep our roads safe”.

“We will continue to vigilantly patrol these areas, to send a clear message that hooning will not be tolerated and those who engage in dangerous driving can expect to face the consequences including charges and having their vehicle seized or confiscated,” she said.

Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving should report it to police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

Footage of dangerous driving can also be uploaded to the community evidence portal at https://www.police.tas.gov.au/report/

Medical professional wounded

Update, 11.30am:

The medical professional who was critically wounded in an incident at a regional hospital was a doctor, it has been revealed.

Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Dr John Saul said the male doctor had been stabbed during the incident at North West Regional Hospital on Sunday afternoon.

He said staff who responded to the incident performed “extremely well” under the extreme circumstances to save the man’s life.

“As a result, we’re now confident he will survive the attack,” Dr Saul said.

“The staff will need our full support going forward after such a traumatic event.”

He said investigations into the full circumstances of the incident were underway by Tasmania Police.

Dr Saul said health and emergency services workers of all backgrounds were often exposed to aggressive and violent behaviour.

“There can be some aggressive and violent behaviour within our emergency departments and sadly, this is one that’s escalated to a life-threatening event,” he said.

“Our hospitals are usually a place of healing, of helping, of contributing to improving someone’s life,

“But unfortunately, you get angry and frustrated people in the emergency department and violence.”

Extra support services have been offered to the staff who assisted during the incident.

Initial: A medical professional has been critically wounded in an incident at North West Regional Hospital on Sunday afternoon.

The victim was flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital in a critical condition after the incident at the Burnie hospital and a youth was been taken into custody by police.

Tasmania Police said they were called to the North West Regional Hospital about 4.30pm and the youth apprehended a short time later.

“The incident was isolated and there is no threat to the wider community,” police said in a statement on Sunday evening.

“Police remain at the scene conducting investigations.”

House fire at Risdon Vale

Tasmania Fire service crews are on the scene of a house fire on Athena St in Risdon Vale.

Trucks from Risdon Vale, Glenorchy and Clarence stations were sent to the scene at about 4pm.

Smoke was seen billowing from the residence, and fire was found in the roof space.

more to come.

Power lines down after single vehicle crash

Police and emergency services are on the scene of a single vehicle crash near Launceston.

The crash, on Hoblers Bridge Rd, has caused power lines to be downed.

The road is completely blocked.

Members of the public and motorists are asked to avoid the area while Tasmania Police manage the incident.

Woman, 29, dies in Bell Bay crash

Latest – 12:20pm:

The death of a 29-year-old woman in a highway crash in the state’s north has brought Tasmania’s road toll into double digits.

Initial investigations indicate the woman – who had been driving a silver Mitsubishi Magna on the East Tamar Highway near Bell Bay at about 6.30am – lost control while on a sweeping left-hand bend and crashed off the right hand side of the road.

It is understood the woman had been driving north from Launceston to George Gown to visit family for Easter.

She was the sole occupant in the car.

Inspector Luke Manhood told media the woman had been thrown from the car as it rolled and left the roadway, indicating that she may not have been wearing her seatbelt.

Another driver came across the scene shortly after the crash.

A 29-year-old woman has died in a single-vehicle crash near Bell Bay. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Inspector Manhood said while family members of the woman they believed had died in the crash had attended the scene, they would not be able to formally identify the woman until at least tomorrow.

“Unfortunately she hasn’t been positively identified at this stage; we believe she is a 29-year-old woman from George Town,” he said.

Investigations into the crash, including its cause, are ongoing.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Inspector Luke Manhood Tasmania Police. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Inspector Manhood said factors including speeding, distracted driving, drugs and alcohol and failure to wear a seatbelt were all contributors of fatal traffic crashes.

“We drive cars every day, we all do, and we become complacent and think that these are things that won’t happen to us,” he said.

“But unfortunately these fatalities happen all too often. This is our 10th fatality this year.

He said this latest tragedy brought the road toll just under where Tasmania was this time last year.

“And as we know that was a horrific year,” he said.

“We really need every driver to pay attention to their driving.”

Updated – 11.02am:

A woman has died after a single vehicle crash on the East Tamar Highway on Easter.

The crash, which happened at Bell Bay, was attended by police and emergency services at about 6.30am.

Initial inquiries indicate the woman was travelling north on the East Tamar Highway in a silver Mitsubishi Magna when she lost control of the vehicle.

The woman was the only person in the car at the time of the crash, and died at the scene.

In a statement, Tasmania Police said their thoughts were with the woman’s family and loved ones.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Anyone with relevant information about the crash or dashcam footage is asked to contact police on 131 444.

Initial- Sunday, April 9 – 8.30am:

Traffic is being managed after a serious MV crash on the East Tamar Highway on Sunday morning.

The crash occurred near Bell Bay, about 2km south of the Bell Bay power station.

Tasmania Police in a statement said traffic had been reduced to one lane and was being managed.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

Woman charged over Copping fatal crash

Saturday, April 8 – 5.30pm:

A woman has been charged in connection to a fatal crash near Copping.

The crash, which happened at about 9.20am on Friday, was between a white MG SUV and a silver Toyota Camry on the Arthur Highway.

The passenger, a woman, died at the scene.

Tasmania Police on Saturday afternoon charged the 26-year-old female driver of the Camry with causing death by dangerous driving, as well as other traffic offences.

She was charged as a result of investigations by Southern Crash Investigations Services, with the assistance of first responders and members of Bellerive CIB.

The woman will appear in an after-hours session of the Hobart Magistrates Court tonight.

Youths charged with Howrah burglaries

Saturday, April 8 – 1.12am:

Four youths have been charged in connection with a series of motor vehicle burglaries that happened in the early hours of Friday April 7 at Glebe Hill, Howrah.

Tasmania Police were alerted to the suspicious behaviour of youths in the area by a member of the public, with police locating them a short time later.

They identified a number of vehicles which had been unlawfully entered, with items stolen.

The youths were arrested and charged, however their charges and ages were not specified by Tasmania Police.

Acting Sergeant Williams encouraged members of the community to lock their car and make sure valuables were not left inside their vehicles.

“We would also like to thank the member of the public who contacted police as it assisted police in locating the persons responsible and a prompt resolution of the matter,” he said.

Anyone with information or CCTV footage relating to the incident are asked to contact Bellerive Police.

Man charged over aggravated robbery at soccer club

Friday, April 7 – 8.50pm:

A 35-year-old man has been hit with aggravated robbery charges after an incident at a soccer club in the state’s north.

Detectives from the Devonport Criminal Investigation Branch on Friday charged the East Devonport man after the incident at the Devonport Soccer Club on Tuesday January 24 this year.

He was charged with:

• One count of aggravated robbery
• Two counts of stealing
• Two counts of attempted stealing
• One count of unlawful possession of property
• One count of threaten a police officer
• One count of use abusive language to a police officer
• Two counts of breach of bail
• One count of use a controlled drug
• One count of possess a controlled drug

The man was remanded in custody and will appear in Devonport Magistrates Court today.

Woman dies in highway crash

Friday, April 7, 2023:

A woman has died after a two car crash on the Arthur Highway at Copping in the state’s south.

Part of the Arthur Highway were closed for hours after the accident about 9.20am on Friday near Blue Hills Road.

Police say the woman, from interstate, was a passenger in a white MG sedan and died at the scene.

The male driver of the MG sedan was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with minor injuries.

The scene of a fatal road accident at Copping. Picture: Linda Higginson

Police say the female driver and her female passenger in a Camry sedan were both taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with minor injuries.

An infant also travelling in the Camry was uninjured.

Police say the highway remains closed between Kellevie Road and Sugarloaf Road while crash investigators conduct inquiries.

“A report will be prepared for the Coroner who will determine the cause of the fatal crash,” a police spokesman said.

“This is a tragic incident and will be fully investigated.”

Police advised at 3.30pm Friday the highway was open again.

“The Arthur Highway is now open at Copping after the fatal traffic crash today. Just a reminder to all motorists, please drive safely on our roads this Easter weekend,” a police spokesperson said.

People rescued from Walls of Jerusalem

Two people have been rescued from Walls of Jerusalem National Park this morning after a personal locator beacon was activated at 3.15am.

Poor weather and heavy rain in the area prevented access by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Police Search and Rescue along with State Emergency Service volunteers prepared to walk into the area.

Authorities say the weather cleared sufficiently around 7.30am, which allowed the Westpac Police Rescue Helicopter to access the area.

At 8.40am two people, a father and son aged 67 and 17 from Runaway Bay Queensland, were located uninjured and transported out of the area.

Two people have been rescued from Walls of Jerusalem National Park on Good Friday morning. Photo: DPFEM

The pair set up camp last night near Lake Solveig in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, but their tent flooded during the night, they were cold and wet and alerted authorities by activating their PLB. The bushwalkers were returned to their parked car wet and cold but otherwise uninjured.

“Wet and windy conditions are forecast over the next two days, so it’s a reminder to those venturing into the Tasmanian wilderness to be prepared with appropriate wet weather gear, warm clothing and we encourage the carriage of personal locator beacons,”

Inspector Darren Hopkins said.

“Remember always tell someone where you are going and when you are planning to return.”

Holden ute driver blows 0.179 on Midland Highway

A man behind the wheel of a Holden ute has been charged by police after blowing over three times the BAC limit.

Police were alerted by the community about the driving behaviour of a white Holden ute on the Midland Highway at Tunbridge at 4:30pm on Thursday.

The 47-year-old driver was intercepted 20 minutes later by a Highway Patrol Unit as it was turning from the highway onto Mudwalls Road.

The man was taken to the Oatlands Police Station for breath analysis and blew a BAC reading of 0.179.

The 47-year-old was charged with high-range drink driving and was disqualified from driving on the spot for two years.

“It is really disappointing that a high-range drink driver was on a major highway at the very beginning of a long weekend,” said Sergeant Steve Dine of Southern Road Policing Services.

“Keeping everyone safe on our roads is a mission for the whole community – not just police.”

Tasmania Police said they will continue to regulate the state’s roads with high visibility and undercover patrols over the Easter period, with targeted operations at any time.

Alleged firebug charged over $500k damage

Thursday: A 53-year-old woman has been charged with unlawfully setting fires in Tasmania’s north, causing more than half a million dollars in damage.

Tasmania Police allege the woman from the Sheffield area unlawfully lit a number of fires in the Buelah and Kimberly areas in the state’s north-west.

A report was initially made to police by owners of private property in January, with a further 12 fires being lit on multiple properties between February to March.

Inspector John King said: “a joint investigation was undertaken by Tasmania Police, Tasmania Fire Service and the owners of the property into the fires which have resulted in damages of over $500,000”.

The woman has been charged with unlawfully setting fire to vegetation and will face court at a later date.

“We continue our investigations into this alleged arson activity, and it is possible that further charges may be laid,” Insp King said.

Police encouraged anyone with information of arson incidents to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Tasmania breaking news: 17-year-old fronts Burnie Youth Justice Court over alleged doctor stabbing