A 35-year old Howrah man is in custody following an incident in Hobart early on Sunday morning.

Just before 7:00am, police attempted to intercept a blue Ford Falcon sedan which had been observed in Liverpool Street, Hobart and had aroused the suspicions of police.

The driver of the vehicle refused to pull over, evading police by taking off at speed into Goulburn Street.

The vehicle turned into Harrington Street, striking a light post but continuing at speed against the flow of traffic along Harrington Street before colliding with two vehicles which were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Harrington and Macquarie Streets.

The driver of the car fled the scene on foot but a short time later was apprehended in a taxi heading east on the Tasman Highway near the Cenotaph.

The 18-year old female driver of one of the vehicles involved and the 64-year old female passenger of the second vehicle were both examined for possible spinal injuries and treated for shock but were discharged from hospital later that afternoon.

Detectives from Hobart CIB were investigating a link between the incident and a burglary at Oomph coffee store on Barrack Street, discovered on Sunday morning.

Hobart Detectives charged the man with Dangerous Driving, Evade Police, Burglary, Stealing and other similar offences.   The man was detained in custody and appeared in an out-of-hours session of the Hobart Magistrate’s Court.

Tasmania Police Inspector Doug Rossiter said that while this was clearly a criminal matter; the incident presents an opportunity to remind people of the ever present dangers on our roads.  “People should remember that when they get behind the controls of a vehicle they are responsible for the safety of those around them”, he said.

Tasmania Police Media
(03) 6230 2296