Christmas crash driver allegedly refused breath test and evaded cops

Updated 3 days ago by Sean Ford

A man is in police custody after a Commodore allegedly hit a pedestrian in Burnie on Christmas night.

Police said the 23-year-old, learner driver, from the Launceston suburb of Newnham had been charged with evading police, negligent driving, being a learner driver unaccompanied by a licensed driver and one count of being a driver involved in a crash and failing to stop.

He will appear in court at a later date.

They said the vehicle was found in Burnie during the morning of December 26.

EARLIER: A Commodore driver allegedly refused to stop for a breath test and evaded police shortly before the car hit a pedestrian in Burnie on Christmas night.

"The driver of the vehicle involved, a white 1997 Holden Commodore station wagon (registration EC3109), refused to stop at a static breath testing site on the Bass Highway near Round Hill about 10:20pm," police said on December 26.

"Attempts were made to intercept the vehicle, but the driver evaded police and the pedestrian was struck at the intersection of Beattie Street and Payne Street shortly before 10:30pm.

"The driver of the Holden Commodore left the scene immediately."

Police said the pedestrian was not seriously injured.

"If anybody witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or knows the location of the vehicle involved, please contact Burnie Police on 131 444 and quote ESCAD 287-25122025," police said.

"As is normal practice, a Professional Standards investigation will also be conducted into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash."

EARLIER: A Holden Commodore hit a pedestrian at a North-West intersection late on Christmas Day.

Police said officers gave the pedestrian first aid.

The person was then taken to the North West Regional Hospital with what police described as non-serious injuries.

Police said the incident was about 10.30pm on the roadway at the intersection of Beattie Street and Payne Street in Burnie.

They said the Commodore was a white 1997 station wagon (EC3109).

Police are investigating.

They said they were seeking any witnesses or dashcam footage of the incident.

"If anybody witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or knows the location of the vehicle, please contact the Burnie Police Station on 131444 and quote ESCAD number: 287-25122025," police said.