Man dies after crashing car on Huon Highway, Huonville
A manhunt for an alleged evader is over with a man taken into custody | A man has died at the scene of a crash in an orchard in Tasmania’s south. LATEST POLICE NEWS >>
Police & Courts
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MAN IN CUSTODY AFTER ALLEGED EVADE
Following an alleged evade incident at South Riana on Wednesday and subsequent manhunt (see below), a 35-year-old man sought by police is now in custody.
The man was taken into police custody about 5pm today at a residence in Devonport.
SERIOUS CRASH, HUONVILLE
A 39-year-old man has died at the scene of a serious orchard crash south of Huonville.
Emergency services were made aware of reports at 7:30pm last night that a vehicle had crashed on the Huon Highway just South of Huonville.
Emergency Service crews attended shortly after but the male driver and sole occupant was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Tasmania Police said initial investigations indicated the vehicle had travelled off the road, overturning, causing extensive damage to the vehicle and orchard netting, resulting in the death of the driver.
The family of the deceased have been notified of the incident.
CRASH INVOLVING PEDESTRRIAN, HOBART
6.40am
Tasmania Police have attended a crash involving a pedestrian in Hobart’s CBD.
Police closed Collins Street between Harrington and Murray Streets while emergency services cleared the scene but the street has since reopened.
According to Tasmania Police, the pedestrian was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries
Thursday, April 22
MANHUNT CONTINUES – RIANA
A Police manhunt continues for a man who evaded them in a vehicle yesterday afternoon in the Riana area in Tasmania’s North West.
Police confirmed they are searching for Luke Eli Jackson (pictured), who may armed with a firearm. The original vehicle he was driving in has been recovered but the fugitive has since stolen a 2019 White Holden Colorado flat tray utility (pictured) from Costa’s at East Devonport.
Police are appealing for any information as to sightings or its current location.
“The registration for this vehicle is I06JZZ but may have been altered since its stealing,” a police statement read.
“There was a blue tank strapped and two tool boxes strapped onto the rear tray of the utility at the time of the stealing.”
Police warn the man should not be approached by members of the public.
Any information should be immediately provided to police on 131444, triple-0 (000) in an emergency, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
UNIT TORCHED IN DELIBERATELY LIT FIRE – INVERMAY
Police are investigating a deliberately lit fire that has destroyed a unit in Invermay this morning.
Tasmania Police and Tasmania Fire Service attended the scene about 6am responding to a report of a fire at a unit on Dunning Street.
The unit was gutted and the damage estimated at around $200,000.
According to Tasmania Police, fire investigators have determined the fire was deliberately lit.
The residence was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
Anyone with information in relation to the fire, or suspicious activity in the area around the time is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21
Two separate crashes in Lenah Valley
EMERGENCY services were called to two car crashes north of the Hobart CBD.
The separate crashes occurred on Augusta Rd, Lenah Valley, between Pottery Rd and Newlands Ave.
A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said while the crashes occurred in close proximity to one another, they were not connected.
The first was called in at 5.42pm, and the second one 10 minutes later.
Police said in one of the crashes, it appeared a vehicle had run into a power pole, while in the other, the vehicle had crashed into the side of the road.
Police, fire and ambulance attended the scenes and only minor injuries were reported.
Manhunt in state’s north as police search for pair
Police including the Westpac rescue helicopter are responding to an evade incident in Forth this afternoon.
Police attended a report of a man acting suspiciously near a residence in William St, Forth, about 1.15pm today.
Shortly afterwards, the man was seen by police to be driving a white Toyota Hilux single cab flat tray on Upper Natone Road.
There is a significant police presence in the area with police searching for:
- Man aged about 35, caucasian, with a goatee, mousey brown hair, about 174cm tall, wearing a grey hoodie driving a white Toyota Hilux singe cab flat tray ute.
- Woman, about 40 years, caucasian, dark brown/black hair with one side shaved, tattoos on forearms, puffer vest with fur around hood and T-shirt underneath vest, black long tights and Pink gum boots.
The woman was last seen at the South Riana shop about 2pm. Anyone who saw her or picked up a female hitch hiker of that description please contact police.
Anyone with information should contact Devonport CIB on 131444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or crimestopperstas.com.au
MORE CRIME NEWS …
Man who tortured woman with meat tenderiser granted parole
A LEFROY man who drove a woman to a secluded area of bushland before violently torturing her with a baseball bat and a meat tenderiser has been released from jail on parole.
Paul William Shaw, 30, has been in custody since December 2016 for the terrifying episode in which he headbutted the woman, forced her into his car against her will, and took her out to a dirt truck where he struck her repeatedly with the metal bat and smashed her hand with the meat tenderiser.
While sentencing, Supreme Court Justice Michael Brett condemned the “cruelty and brutality” of the September 2015 attack, which took place “over an extended period of time and in frightening circumstances”.
He noted Shaw that threatened to smash out the woman’s “pretty white teeth” and showed no humanity when it was obvious the victim thought she was going to die, asking him to tell her children she loved them.
Shaw was jailed for four years, with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half, after he pleaded guilty to wounding and five counts of assault.
In its recently-published decision, the Parole Board of Tasmania noted Shaw had been previously granted parole – but his freedom was revoked in mid-2020 due to noncompliance and reports of new offending.
The Mercury reported at the time that Shaw was caught dealing drugs while on parole, dropping his mobile phone into a sink full of water in a bid to cover his tracks from police.
The Parole Board said since his return into custody, Shaw had been housed in minimum security at Risdon Prison and was employed as a general hand in the chill room.
It said even though concerns had been raised that Shaw could reoffend, his behaviour and attitude had demonstrated he would be able to comply with strict rules and conditions back in the community.
Shaw was granted parole as of January 27 this year, with conditions he not enter certain areas of Tasmania or contact the victim.
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