Man charged with manslaughter after fatal hit-and-run crash on Murchison Highway

19/12/2023

The driver of a stolen vehicle who allegedly ran off from the scene of a fatal crash on the Murchison Highway in Tasmania’s north-west on Friday has been charged with manslaughter. The 52-year-old man from Wynyard is also facing charges of causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving, by negligent driving and cause the death of another person by negligent driving.

He has been held in custody and will appear in the Burnie Magistrates Court today.

Arrest made four days after fatal hit-and-run Yolla crash that claimed life of Malaysian tourist

3:50pm, Monday December 18: A man has been arrested over a fatal crash at Yolla that claimed the life of a Malaysian tourist on Friday. Police say no charges have been laid at this stage.

The stolen vehicle involved in the fatal crash at Yolla. Image / Tasmania Police

The arrest came just hours after Western District Commander Stuart Wilkinson urged the man allegedly responsible to turn himself in.

A 43-year-old Malaysian man died on the Murchison Highway just after 9am on Friday after the motorcycle touring group he was riding with was “met with a vehicle coming at them on the wrong side of the road”. “The collision involved two vehicles and two motorcycles. One of the riders of one of the motorcycles was killed as a result of the crash,” Wilkinson said.

“The other motorcyclist was taken to hospital and still remains in hospital with some fairly significant injuries, but is expected to make a full recovery.”

“The driver of one of the other vehicles, being a 4WD with a trailer, was uninjured and he’s home now.” “The driver of the second vehicle involved, which we now know to be a stolen motor vehicle, he fled the scene shortly after the crash and police are still looking for that man.”

The Launceston General Hospital. Image / Pulse

He is described as Caucasian, slim build, approximately 168 centimeters tall, with dark hair and an unshaven beard. “We believe that he’s injured and certainly we believe he has a head injury, perhaps minor.”

Wilkinson said the vehicle he was driving, a blue Holden Adventra station wagon, was stolen from Somerset between the 30th of November and the 6th of December. “It’s very clear that from the scene and from witnesses at the scene that speed and inattention and certainly not driving to the conditions is the reason this crash occurred,” he said. “We are treating this as very serious.

We’re imploring the driver of that vehicle to come forward to us and we also are seeking anyone who knows anything about this incident to come forward to us and provide us that detail.”

“The person involved may have realised the significance of what they had done. It was a very nasty sight. I’ve seen images of the scene.

It would be very confronting.” “They’re obviously travelling in a vehicle that probably they know is stolen. There’s a great incentive to leave the scene.

What I would say to them is that time is now over and it’s time to hand yourself into us.” “We will find out who you are and we’ll be knocking on your door and we’ll be chasing you until we find you.” He said Police have potential suspects who will be spoken to over the coming days.

He also urged the driver of a blue 80 series Toyota Land Cruiser that was seen in the area at the time to come forward.

“It’s certainly possible that this person was picked up in the area of Yola … it’s very possible, in fact likely, that someone was contacted by this person and attended the area and picked them up.”

“They may not have known what he was involved in and what had occurred.”

The investigation into the crash is ongoing and anyone with information should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously via crimestopperstas.com.au