A YARRA Junction teenager has walked away from flipping her car on a back road near Wandin over the weekend, with police warning drivers to avoid distractions.
Olinda Police Sergeant, Andrew Herdman, told the Mail that, at 5pm on Saturday, 20 February, the 19-year-old driver was heading towards Wandin on Old Gippsland Road, when she became distracted and hit an embankment.
Sgt Herdman said the car rolled onto its roof, but the driver was able to walk away uninjured.
He said police would not press charges for the crash, as the driver had the difficult process of replacing their car – and talking to their parents about the crash.
“At this stage, it’s just a single-vehicle collision with driver inexperience and distraction, which has resulted in the car being pretty well written-off,” Sgt Herdman said.
“She was very lucky that no-one else was involved in the accident, and she was able to walk away.
“She’s got to pay for a new car, so we figured mum and dad would have a good, stern talking to her, and discipline through the family, rather than through the courts.”
He warned young drivers to keep their eyes on the road, and not to be distracted by phones, or changing songs on the radio.
Child attacked by dog
A TODDLER was hospitalised last week with facial injuries after a dog owned by a family friend attacked him in Woori Yallock.
Before noon on Monday, 15 February, paramedics were called out to a Woori Yallock property after the dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier, attacked the child.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the toddler was bitten “several times” on their face, and was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a stable condition with facial and head injuries.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Corporate Services, Troy Edwards, said rangers had attended the property, and impounded the dog “at the request of the owner”.
Mr Edwards said the dog was owned by a family friend, but the attack occurred on the family’s property.
The dog was taken to Animal Aid in Coldstream.
Witnesses to bushfires
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after two small bushfires were lit in between Warburton and Narbethong over the weekend.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Acting Sergeant Marc Hodgson, said that, at 9pm on Saturday, 20 February, emergency services were called out to two small fires on Acheron Way, about 20 kilometres north of Warburton.
Det Sgt Hodgson said the fires were small, but that police were asking anyone who saw any suspicious activity to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Tools stolen from Lilydale
POLICE are on the hunt for thieves who made off with thousands of dollars’ worth of tools, after two burglaries in Lilydale over the last week.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Acting Sergeant, Marc Hodgson, said the first burglary occurred between 4.45am and 6.25am at Yarra Valley Ag in Lilydale on Tuesday, 16 February.
Unknown people forced the doors at the Maroondah Highway business, triggering an alarm, before stealing $5000 worth of hand tools and specialist tools, including a hydraulic test kit and compressor.
The next burglary occurred between 6.30am and 2.45pm on Sunday, 21 February, where $4400 worth of tools were stolen from a garage and storage area under an Alexandra Road property in Lilydale.
Det Sgt Hodgson said that cordless power tools, nail guns and manual hand tools were stolen in the burglary.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Man charged with nine offences
A MOOROOLBARK man will face Ringwood Magistrates’ Court after being arrested for thefts across the Yarra Valley in recent months.
On Thursday, 18 February, Yarra Ranges police arrested a 23-year-old Mooroolbark man in relation to thefts from motor vehicles and thefts of motor vehicles in Mount Evelyn, Croydon and Warburton.
The man was charged with nine offences, and bailed to appear at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court in the coming months.
