Category: Hume Travel Radio Network

WARRANTS have been issued for a Melbourne man who failed to appear in Albury Court yesterday on charges of possessing a laser pointer and extendable steel baton.

The details of the Melbourne man’s arrest were outlined in police papers presented to the court.

They also allege Tyron David Robinson was shining the laser pointer at truck drivers on the Hume Highway.

Magistrate Tony Murray was told police were patrolling the highway just before 1am on April 20.

They received information about truckies being flashed in the eyes with a laser by a man walking south of Holbrook.

The officers found Robinson, who was walking on the highway shoulder with a dog and carrying a full container of fuel.

He was asked whether he had a laser pointer and immediately produced one from the right pocket of his hoodie.

Police tested the pointer and it emitted a bright green beam.

They asked Robinson, 30, of Mont Albert, why he was shining the light into the eyes of truck drivers.

He denied doing so and said: “I was waving it out in front of me so they knew I was here.”

Robinson explained his car ran out of petrol near the intersection of the Hume Highway and Olympic Way about 40 kilometres south from his present location.

A truck driver gave him a lift to Holbrook so he could get fuel and he was just starting his long walk back.

The officers asked whether he had any other prohibited items and he indicated that he did not.

But a search of his backpack uncovered a steel expandable baton which was 40cm long when extended.

He was asked about it and said: “Oh, sorry. I forgot that was there. It shouldn’t have left the house. Somebody left it at my place after a party.”

Both the laser and baton were seized by police, who gave Robinson a lift back to his car.

Police gave him field court attendance notices.

Mr Murray has ordered the seized items be forfeited.

The Hume Highway has reopened after a truck rolled over in Craigieburn on Saturday morning.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of the highway and Grand Boulevard after the semi-trailer rolled about 8am, Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said.

Mr Mullen said the driver did not need to go to hospital.

No other vehicles were involved in the incident, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

Police, fire and VicRoads crews attended the scene.

IN A fitting celebration for the event’s 50th year, the Wodonga Hereford National Show and Sale grossed in excess of $1 million.

Clearing 133 of the 143 lots offered, the sale averaged an impressive $7496, more than $500 above the 2014 result with 21 more bulls sold.

Long time supporters of the sale Andrew and Leanne Green, who recently relocated from Uranquinty, NSW, to Euroa, claimed this year’s top spot, and their highest price, selling Yarrandabbie Jingle J018 at $40,000.

The Pearce family, Yavenvale Herefords, Adelong, NSW, signed the cheque, continuing the tradition of selecting the best, with the family having also purchased the top-priced bull at the event in its inaugural year.

The 19-month-old Jingle weighed 862 kilograms with an eye muscle area (EMA) of 122 square centimetres and estimated breeding values (EBVs) of +4.5 for EMA and +79 for 600-day growth.

Yavenvale co-principal James Pearce said the bull had the performance data required, with exceptional birth to growth EBVs (+4).

“Largely an outcross to our herd, the bull is out of a proven cow family that has done well in the herd with one son selling at $17,000 and another two sons selling at $11,000,” he said.

Jingle was one of 44 junior bulls sold to an average of $7682, while 53 intermediate bulls averaged $7585 and topped at $30,000 — the second highest price of the sale.

This was for Days Carbine J141, offered by Days Whiteface, Bordertown, South Australia, and purchased by Yarram Park Herefords, Willaura.

Carbine was by the $90,000 record price bull Days Calibre G74. The 828kg reserve grand champion bull had EBV figures including +5 for EMA, +1.8 and +2.5 for rib and rump fat, and +48 for 400-day weight.

The Days’ other ribbon winners headed to NSW, with the stud’s junior champion bull selling for $12,000 to Barry and Lyn and Mathew and Kath Peel, Yukon Park and Tumulla Herefords, Tarcutta, NSW, while their senior champion was knocked down for $8000 to Ros and John Teschke, Josslyn Poll Herefords, Delegate, NSW.

A driver has been charged after being detected allegedly travelling at more than 190km/h south of Gundagai this morning.

Highway Patrol officers were conducting stationary speed enforcement duties on the Hume Highway at Tumblong, 15km south of Gundagai, at 1.10am today (Friday 29 May 2015), when they detected a vehicle allegedly travelling north at high speed.

Police will allege a speed check revealed the vehicle was allegedly travelling at 192km/h in a 110km/h zone.

The 65-year-old driver, from Western Australia, was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for dangerous driving, and exceed speed over 45km/h.

He is due to appear in Gundagai Local Court on Monday 6 July 2015.

His authority as a visiting driver in NSW was suspended until his court appearance.

A body has been found by investigators examining the ruins of a home by destroyed fire this morning, north of Wagga Wagga.

About 12.45am today (Thursday 28 May 2015) emergency services were alerted to a house on fire in Coopers Lane, Coolamon, about 43km north of Wagga Wagga.

Fire fighters from Fire & Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service, attended the scene and found the premises well alight. The fire was extinguished but not before the building was destroyed.

Shortly before midday, investigators located a body within the ruins of the home.

A post mortem examination will be conducted to determine if it is that of the 68-year-old man who lived alone in the home. The examination will also endeavour to determine a cause of death.

Police have advised the man’s family.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

There is no evidence the fire was suspicious.

A house has been destroyed and a man is missing following a fire north of Wagga Wagga this morning.

About 12.45am today (Thursday 28/ May 2015) emergency services were alerted to a house on fire in Coopers Lane, Coolamon, about 43km north of Wagga Wagga.

Fire fighters from Fire & Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service, attended the scene and found the premises well alight. The fire was extinguished but not before the building was destroyed.

The only person who lived in the home, a 68-year-old man, has not been found. A canvass of the man’s neighbours and family have been unable to determine if he was home at the time the fire broke out.

Police have advised the man’s family.

The building is still too dangerous to enter; however, investigators will search the scene once it is deemed safe later today. The cause of the fire is unknown.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Thirty truck drivers have tested positive to drugs and more than 1200 defect notices were issued in New South Wales since the beginning of Operation Austrans, which commenced on Monday (18 May 2015).

Officers from the Joint Traffic Taskforce comprising the NSW Police Force Traffic and Highway Patrol Command working alongside Roads & Maritime Service Inspectors have been conducting the operation, part of a nationwide campaign focussing on heavy vehicle compliance and load restraint.

Since the operation began on Monday (18 May 2015) until Tuesday (26 May 2015), 1941 truck drivers were tested for drugs and 30 of them returned a positive result. In total, Traffic and Highway Patrol officers made 6208 intercepts and inspected 12388 heavy vehicles ranging from small rigid local trucks to interstate b-doubles.

Officers issued 1240 defect notices for a range of violations, including 53 non-compliant Engine Control modules, allowing those trucks to travel at speeds of more than 100km/h, brake, ancillary equipment and body and chassis faults.

In another incident around 10am (Monday 25 May 2015), officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command observed an over-height B-double heavy vehicle stationary in a lane on General Holmes Drive.

Upon questioning the driver allegedly indicated he was distracted and mistakenly turned onto General Holmes Drive before stopping when the over-height warning lights had activated.

Officers closed General Holmes Drive in both directions and the vehicle was turned around toward Foreshore Road for inspection.

The driver was issued with two penalty notices for being off route and disobeying road access signs and one penalty notice for a work diary offence.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said Operation Austrans was aimed at ensuring road safety for all by focussing on heavy vehicles.

“Any tampering with trucks, incorrect and unrestrained loading, driving fatigued, while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or exceeding the speed limit is violation of the law. Police officers are out in force to make sure that those offenders are stopped for the safety of the entire community,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said

“The Joint Traffic Taskforce Officers are out there everyday to prevent heavy vehicle related crashes on our roads.”

Operation Austrans, a month-long operation, began across Australia and New Zealand on Monday May 18 2015.

 

A man has been charged following the death of another man at Springvale near Wagga Wagga earlier today.

About 12.20pm (Tuesday 26 May 2015), emergency services were called to a home on Springvale Drive after reports a man had been injured at the property.

Officers attached to Wagga Wagga Local Area Command arrived to find the body of an 83-year-old man who appeared to have suffered severe head injuries.

A crime scene was established at the home, which was examined by forensic specialists and detectives.

Following further inquiries a 48-year-old man was arrested at Cootamundra Railway Station shortly before 3pm, with assistance from Cootamundra Police.

After being taken to Cootamundra Police Station, officers attached to Strike Force Cliffbrooke continued with their inquiries into the incident. The two men were known to each other.

The man was later charged with murder.

He has been refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 27 May 2015).