Police Beat with ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
Skydiver flown to hospital
A MAN has been flown to hospital following a skydiving incident in Traralgon on Saturday, February 24.
Emergency services were called to the scene of a skydiving-related fall at the Latrobe Regional Airport on Airfield Road, Traralgon.
Police and paramedics were at the scene shortly after the incident was reported at 11.40am.
It is understood the incident involved the diver taking a hard fall and the emergency parachute was activated as the diver descended upon the ground.
“A man believed to be in his 40s was treated for back pain and has been flown by air ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in stable condition,” said an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson.
Person trapped in car rollover
EMERGENCY responders were called out to an incident in Traralgon just past Bank Street on the westbound lanes of the Princes Freeway last Thursday (February 22).
A vehicle lost control and rolled-over into the ditch; the driver was believed to be trapped.
SES and CFA crews were on the job to successfully retrieve the driver from the upturned vehicle.
Paramedics said they were called to the scene around 1pm to assess the driver, believed to be a woman in her 40s. She was transported by road to Latrobe Regional Hospital in a stable condition, sustaining an upper body injury.
Princes Freeway closure
A LOG truck rolled over in the early morning of last Wednesday (February 21), causing a Princes Freeway closure in the westbound lanes at Newborough.
John Field Drive to Old Gippsland traffic was diverted through Moe.
Drivers were encouraged to use John Field Drive, Narracan Drive, Lloyd Street and Old Gippsland Drive to return to the freeway.
Victoria Police were on the scene managing the incident until roads were reopened.
The Department of Transport and Planning’s signals team were monitoring conditions in the area, and adjusted traffic lights to minimise congestion along detour routes.
Following the clean-up, the freeway was reopened at around midday.
Smoke shop goes up in smoke
SUSPECTED to be another smoke shop caught up in Victoria’s tobacco wars, the Commercial Road, Morwell Gifts store was destroyed by fire on Wednesday, February 14.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 2.30am to see the shop engulfed in flames.
This follows a number of tobacco shop related incidents in the Valley, including an arson attack on a cigarette store in Moe on Christmas Day last year, and a brutal assault and theft at the Morwell Kush Gift Shop in late November, last year.
Radio station 3AW reported that it is believed an offender spread an accelerant through the premises before lighting the fire and fleeing in a white Audi.
This specific tobacco store was among the many in Gippsland raided by police in December 2023.
During the operation in the region, police seized around $2.5 million worth of illicit tobacco products in their investigation into organised crime syndicates.
In the past year across the state, there have been more than 30 arson attacks on tobacconists and other businesses, which police believe is in connection to criminal syndicates attempting to monopolise the illicit tobacco trade.
Police suspected Melbourne gang boss Kazem Hamad to be behind the turf wars despite living in exile in the Middle East.
Fire in the plantations
A BURNT-OUT car posed a grave risk to the Moondarra Plantation and surrounding towns as a fire burnt through a small section of the plantation on Monday, February 12 at 9am.
Yallourn North Urban Fire Brigade, along with FRV Pumper 79, Westbury Fire Brigade, Erica & District Fire Brigade, Nilma North Fire Brigade and crews from HVP, were called to a fire in the pines off Moondarra Reservoir Road.
The crew worked quickly to bring the fire under control, but remained on scene, working until 2.30pm.
This follows reports of illegal dumping in rural bush lands in the region, with household waste, goods and stolen vehicles reportedly found in the plantations.
Cyclist struck in Glengarry
A cyclist has died after suffering fatal injuries from a collision with a car on Bassetts Lane, Glengarry on Monday, February 26.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives were called to the scene after the incident occurred at around 11am.
The male cyclist, who is yet to be identified was airlifted to hospital but has since died.
The driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene and assisted police with their enquiries.
The investigation remains ongoing as police attempt to narrow down the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or make a report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au
