20 September 2024

WATCH: Driver of stolen car nearly causes crashes while allegedly fleeing police

| Albert McKnight

The driver of a white Kia SUV nearly crashed into other cars on Morsehead Drive while fleeing police on Thursday (19 September). Photo: ACT Policing.

Police are calling for witnesses after the driver of a stolen car allegedly nearly caused crashes before the car was later found on fire.

ACT Policing said at about 9:30 am on Thursday (19 September), the driver of a stolen Kia SUV allegedly failed to stop for police along Morsehead Drive, drove over roundabouts and nearly collided with other vehicles.

Then, at about 10:30 am that morning, police and emergency services arrived at the scene of a car on fire on Parkes Way in Acton.

ACT Fire & Rescue extinguished the blaze and no one was injured during the incident.

“The destroyed vehicle was a white Kia SUV, which had previously been reported stolen,” a police spokesperson said.

“At this time, no arrests have been made in relation to these incidents.”

Police are seeking information about the driver, including any information about where they ran after leaving the SUV on Parkes Way.

If you saw the driver leaving the SUV or have dashcam footage of the car, you can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Quote 7854664.

READ ALSO Tesla, Mercedes drivers allegedly get into fight during road rage incident

Meanwhile, earlier this month, police released a compilation video of drivers filmed driving through red traffic lights by members of the public.

In May, ACT Policing released a new mechanism to report poor driver behaviour online.

Police then fined 54 drivers for failing to stop at red traffic lights across Canberra after they had been caught on the dashcams of other motorists.

If you capture dashcam or mobile phone footage of driving offences, you can report these via the online reporting portal.

Also, in July, police shared an earlier dashcam compilation video of poor driver behaviour after 25 drivers were issued fines over two months.

READ ALSO Police find alleged reckless driver asleep in car after crash

There have been six fatal crashes on the ACT’s roads so far this year.

Joshua Stewart, 19, died in January after the allegedly stolen vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a crash on the Barton Highway. A 14-year-old boy has been charged and is before the courts, while a teenage passenger in the car died months after the crash.

Tennis Canberra coach Alicia Celaya Jauregui was killed while riding her bike on Lady Denman Drive in March.

A flipped Toyota Camry was found in the middle of Adelaide Avenue in Yarralumla on 17 April, and a 15-year-old boy was transported to hospital where he later died. Another 15-year-old has been charged with manslaughter over the crash.

A 46-year-old male motorbike rider died after a single-vehicle crash on Brindabella Road on 21 April, and another was killed in a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Sulwood and Athllon drives on 23 May.

Also, a 47-year-old died after a motorcycle and a light truck crashed near the intersection of Southern Cross Drive and Beaurepaire Crescent in Holt on 18 June.

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