Tasmania breaking news: Boat blocks Arthur Hwy after coming trailer between Dunalley, Murdunna
Emergency services are on the Arthur Highway after responding to reports a large boat has come off a trailer and is leaking fuel.
Police & Courts
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Large boat blocks highway after coming off trailer
June 10, 2.50pm: Emergency services are responding to a report a large boat has come off its trailer and is leaking fuel on the Arthur Highway.
Officers say the incident occurred approximately half way between Dunalley and Murdunna.
The highway is blocked in both directions while the incident is being managed.
Police say there’s no reports of injuries at this stage.
Window smashed after firearm reportedly shot at home
9.50am: Investigations are underway into reports of a firearm shot towards a Brighton home on Saturday night.
Officers say they responded to calls just before 9pm and found damage to the windows of the home.
Police say no one was injured.
Officers are tracking down a white single cab utility in the area of Tee Tree around 9pm last night and have asked the public to come forward with any information.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania.
Man charged with manslaughter after death of 4-year-old
June 9: A 35-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of a four-year-old child at Smithton in Tasmania’s North West.
Police say a 30-year-old woman is also facing charges after an investigation into the child’s death nine days ago.
Both the man and woman were known to the child, police said.
An investigation began when hospital staff notified police of the child’s death about 10.15pm on Friday, May 31.
The man is due to appear in an out-of-hours court session at the Burnie Magistrates Court on Sunday morning.
The woman has been charged with ill-treating a child and has been bailed to appear in court at a later date.
Police would not say whether the child was a boy or girl.
Injuries reported in Midland Hwy crash
12.25pm: Non-life-threatening injuries have been reported after a single vehicle crash on the Midland Hwy, approximately one kilometre south of Ross.
Police said they are managing traffic after the incident partially blocked the north bound lanes of the highway.
Motorists have been asked to avoid the area if possible.
Charges laid after targeted police sting
June 8, 8.30am: A 39-year-old is suspected of an array of firearm, property and illicit drug offences after police say they executed a search warrant at Brighton on Friday.
Detective Acting Sergeant Sam Storer said the targeted operation included officers from Bridgewater CIB and other specialised police resources.
“This resulted in the seizure of stolen and homemade firearms, ammunition,
illicit drugs and a significant quantity of stolen property including a boat,” he said.
“Stolen and homemade Illegal firearms pose a significant risk to the wider community and are extremely dangerous to those who choose to use them.”
“Tasmania Police will continue to target and disrupt offenders engaging in this type of nefarious activity, because of the real threat they pose to community safety.”
He also said police would proactively target and hold accountable those involved in the illicit firearm and drug trade.
“Anyone with information about illegal firearms or illicit drug activity should contact police on 131 444.
“You can stay anonymous.”
Speeding P-plater has car clamped, cops big fine
12.30pm, June 7: Police have warned motorists to take more care on the roads over the Kings Birthday long weekend after nabbing speedsters on the roads overnight on Thursday and Friday morning.
A P-plater was caught travelling at 49km over the speed limit at Lauderdale about 11pm on Thursday night. The 18-year-old driver was caught by police and it was determined the car was unroadworthy and the driver was not displaying P-plates.
The driver was issued an infringement notice that includes fines in excess of $1200, a four-month disqualification, six demerit points, and the car clamped for a month.
Inspector Kathy Bennett said: “The driving behaviour of this inexperienced motorist was incredibly dangerous – he was putting his life and the lives of other road users at risk of death or serious injury.
“Research has shown us that novice drivers are over-represented in serious and fatal crashes and speed is one of the fatal five causes of death and serious injury on our roads.
“If you are driving your car in this manner, you will be detected and you will be held accountable.”
Meanwhile, police on the West Coast nabbed two drivers travelling at high speed on Henty Rd Strahan on Friday morning.
One motorist will receive a three-month disqualification and an $828.75 fine after being allegedly detected at nearly 40km/h over the speed limit, travelling at 139km/h in the 100km/h zone. The other motorist was allegedly travelling at 134km/h in the same area.
Police urge people travelling to the West Coast and other regions in Tasmania to enjoy the long weekend to slow down, take care and drive to the conditions.
Woman blows four times over the legal limit after erratic driving
10am, June 7: A woman has blown more than four times over the legal alcohol limit after the public reported erratic driving.
Tasmania Police said they have charged the 46-year-old Burnie woman with high-range drink driving after they were provided from the public relating to her manner of her driving.
The woman was intercepted by police on Forth Rd at Don about 5pm on Thursday.
The woman returned a breath analysis reading of 0.202 – more than four times the legal limit.
The woman was arrested and bailed to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court at a later date. She has been disqualified from driving for a period of 24 months.
Police thanked the public for their help and encouraged others to report any concerning driving behaviour on our roads by calling Tasmania Police on 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au
Man critically injured in crash involving a car and truck
June 6, 6pm: A 60-year-old NSW man is in a critical condition in hospital after a collision between a car and truck at Bagdad.
Emergency services were called to the scene in the vicinity of 1853 Midland Highway shortly before 1.30pm.
The man was flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital and remains in a critical condition. A 63-year-old woman, also from NSW, was assessed for minor injuries and was driven to hospital by ambulance.
Traffic on the Midland Highway between Pontville and Kempton was impacted for more than three hours while police and emergency services managed the scene. Southbound traffic was diverted around the scene via Mud Walls Rd.
Crash investigators and forensic officers conducted an examination of the scene and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Teens charged over alleged knife threat in mall
June 6, 10am: Two teenagers have been charged with assault after an alleged incident with a security guard in Elizabeth St Mall on Wednesday.
Tasmania Police have charged two boys aged 13 and 16 from the state’s South following reports a security guard had been pushed and threatened with a knife about 11.30am.
“Both boys were arrested at the scene and the 13-year-old has been charged with common assault, unlawfully possess a dangerous article in a public place (knife), possess a controlled drug (cannabis) and breach of bail,” Tasmania Police said in a statement.
“The 16-year-old has been charged with common assault, and both boys will appear in the Hobart Youth Court in July. Police said Tasmanians deserve to feel safe at home, out in public and in their workplaces, and they would continue to prioritise community safety.
“When authorised by law we will do this by charging offenders and putting them before our courts,” police said.
Anyone who witnesses illegal or anti-social behaviour have been urged to report it to police on 131 444, or triple-0 (000) in an emergency.
Information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at crimestopperstas.com.au, and the informant can stay anonymous.
Crash at junction next to Eastlands causes delays
June 5 11.20am: The crash near Eastlands shopping centre has been cleared.
10.45am: Emergency services have rushed to the scene of a two vehicle crash at an intersection at the entry of Eastlands shopping centre.
Police say no serious injuries have been reported.
Motorists have been told to expect delays while the intersection of Bligh St and Rosny Hill Rd is cleared.
Two vehicle crash blocks outlet during morning rush
June 5, 8.43am: A two-vehicle crash on the Southern Outlet at Prospect has slowed traffic in the morning’s rush hour.
Police are on the scene of the incident and say one lane heading towards Launceston is blocked.
They say no serious injuries have been reported, however motorists have been asked to avoid the area while the scene is cleared.
Powerline reportedly fell onto a truck
2.15pm: The road is now cleared.
1.15pm: An intersection is blocked after a powerline reportedly fell onto a truck in the state’s North.
The driver in the truck has escaped with no injuries reported, police say.
The incident has closed off the intersection of Shaws and South Bridgenorth roads.
Officers say TasNetworks have been called to repair the line.
At this stage, it is unclear whether the incident has cut off power to nearby residents.
Police have asked motorists to avoid the area until the road is cleared.
Shots fired towards home hit front window: police
June 4, 10.15am: Officers say shots from a firearm were reportedly fired towards a house in Herdsmans Cove on Monday night.
Acting Sergeant Sam Storer said police responded to the incident about 7.40pm after residents reported the sound of a firearm being discharged.
“Officers arrived to find the front window had been hit, but thankfully no one was injured,” he said.
“A 31-year-old man was arrested at the scene for unrelated matters, and has since been charged with unrelated firearms and other offences.”
The man will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.
Acting Sergeant Storer said police were calling on information from the public and any CCTV or dashcam footage to assist with investigations into the incident.
Charges laid over alleged altercation in car park
3.50pm: A 24-year-old Launceston man has been charged by police with aggravated assault and firearms offences following an alleged incident at a St Leonards car park in April.
Officers said they had responded to reports just before 4pm on Saturday, April 27 of a man who had pointed a firearm at a member of the public following an alleged verbal altercation between the pair.
Police allege the man in possession of the firearm had kicked the other person’s dog prior to the altercation.
Nobody was reported physically injured and the man was believed to have left the area in a Blue Holden Commodore, which police say was later burnt out on the Tasman Highway, Waverly.
Police said the 24-year-old Launceston man has been remanded in custody on unrelated matters and was due to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on June 13.
Crews remain at site of large shed fire
June 3, 8am: While firefighters have made headway with an extremely large shed fire in the state’s north, crews are expected to remain on the scene for some time, a TFS spokesperson has confirmed.
Crews from Launceston, Rocherlea and Ravenswood rushed to reports of a structure fire on St Leonards Rd, St Leonards at around 4am this morning.
Upon arrival they reportedly found an extremely large shed fully up in flames.
A TFS spokesperson said some crews had left the scene, however personnel remained on the ground dealing with the aftermath — with an excavator also expected to arrive.
They said once the fire was fully extinguished an investigation would be underway to determine the cause of the blaze.
Old dairy goes up in flames
June 2, 3.55pm: Fire fighters reportedly arrived to an old dairy burning freely in the state’s far North-West.
Brigades from Irish Town, Edith Creek, Stanley and Smithton have all responded to reports of an old dairy having caught alight at Huetts Rd, Edith Creek.
Crews working to extinguish unit fire in CBD
Updated 2pm: Fire fighters chopped down the roof of a burning building in efforts to extinguish a blaze in a unit at Hobart’s CBD.
Crews used scaffolding that was already surrounding the structure to access parts of the two-storey building, with flames sighted on the bottom and top floors.
Brigades from Hobart and Glenorchy responded to reports of a house fire on Goulburn St around 11am on Sunday.
Police also attended the scene and closed a section of the road between Barrack and Molle Sts for hours, with access returning at 1.40pm.
It is uncertain at this stage what damage the fire caused, however it appeared to burn in proximity to an adjoining apartment block.
Fire investigations are underway to determine the cause of the blaze.
June 2, 11.15am: Two firefighting crews have arrived to a unit fire in Hobart’s CBD going well alight.
Hobart and Glenorchy brigades are working to control and contain the Goulburn St.
Smoke can be seen billowing from the top story of the housing block, with no flames visible from the street.
The road between Molle and Barrack Sts have been closed with police also responding to the situation.
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