General News
8 June, 2023
Call for information after two drivers evade police
Police are investigating two incidents where drivers evaded police attempts to intercept them on the weekend, posing a “significant” risk to other road users. Both incidents occurred on Saturday, June 3 in Maryborough — with the first a white...
Police are investigating two incidents where drivers evaded police attempts to intercept them on the weekend, posing a “significant” risk to other road users.
Both incidents occurred on Saturday, June 3 in Maryborough — with the first a white AU model Ford sedan travelling on the Ballarat-Maryborough Road, Daisy Hill, at around 10.50 am.
Reports of the vehicle dangerously overtaking a number of other road users at high speeds in the direction of Maryborough were received by police who attempted to intercept the driver near Capilano Drive, however the vehicle fled and was last seen travelling into bushland off Brown Street.
Later the same day at around 5.48 pm, police attempted to intercept a grey VE Holden Commodore sedan in Goldsmith Street, after it was flagged by the Highway Patrol vehicle’s automatic number plate recognition technology.
According to police, the driver took evasive action to avoid being intercepted by turning their headlights off, overtaking vehicles and driving at dangerous speeds in Inkerman Street.
Central Goldfields Highway Patrol Sergeant Paul Martin said the drivers in both incidents blatantly evaded police, putting other road users at risk.
“Both of those situations involved the drivers taking very dangerous actions to avoid police and in doing so, it places anyone else using the road at that time in significant danger,” he said.
“These incidents both involved overtaking in situations that were very unsafe and at high speed, the incident in Inkerman Street also involved the driver turning their headlights off while it was dark.
“It’s clear the drivers in these situations were actively evading police — it was a deliberate and obvious attempt to avoid being intercepted.”
Sgt Martin said the consequences of evading police can be severe.
“Often police are conducting routine intercepts and aren’t specifically targeting you as a driver,” he said.
“However, generally when people are trying to evade police they’re likely aware they shouldn’t be driving in the first place.
“There are significant charges that come with evading police and driving dangerously, as well as the fact the behaviour risks the wellbeing of other road users.”
Police are urging anybody who may have information concerning the whereabouts of the vehicles or the identity of the drivers to contact Central Goldfields Highway Patrol on 5460-3300 or submitting an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.