Latest news with #Blanch
West Australian
5 days ago
- West Australian
Carolina Wilga: Satellite internet technology helped WA Police in search for missing backpacker
The roll-out of satellite internet across the WA Police Force has been credited for its success in helping with the search for missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga. Officers in remote parts of the state are using the Starlink network to remain connected to critical systems where mobile coverage isn't available. 'Over 200 vehicles in regional WA have now been fitted with Starlink,' Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. 'In Carolina Wilga's search and rescue we had three vehicle all with Starlink capability. In the past WA Police would have zero communications, or very sketchy communications. We would really struggle with our land searches.' The technology has been implemented by the Anywhere Communications Team, who were winners at the WA Police Force Recognition of Excellence Awards this week for their contribution. 'It's extraordinary for our police officer who have the full ability to use all of the data, collect all of the information and to plot every path they need to go to do these searches,' the Commissioner said. 'They (officers) are safe but also we do our job much better out in the field.'
7NEWS
15-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Teen girl fighting for life after horror crash at Burswood car meet
A 17-year-old girl is fighting for life after being struck by a car at a car meet on Monday night. The teen was trying to cross Camfield Drive in in Burswood, WA, just before 10pm, which was lined by spectators, when she was hit by a black Honda Civic sedan. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today She suffered multiple broken bones and was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition. Mobile phone footage captured two cars speeding past spectators gathered outside the Crown complex. Police said the incident occurred as a pre-arranged car meet was dispersing. 'We'll be alleging excessive speed was involved, and other organisers have canceled similar meets or events later this week,' Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. The meet was part of a regular event known as Mondaymeets, which draws large crowds of car enthusiasts each week. Blanch said police were present earlier in the evening and had impounded a vehicle just before the crash. 'I think what we will do as a result is crank down even more and make sure that the behaviour of these organised car meets ... what we don't support is reckless and dangerous behavior that results in these tragedies,' he said. The 25-year-old male driver of the Honda was not injured and is assisting police with their investigation.
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Girl critical after being hit by ‘speeding' car at Burswood street meet
A teenage girl is fighting for life in hospital after being struck by an allegedly speeding car during an organised car meet at Burswood on Monday night. WA Police said the 17-year-old was struck by the car on Camfield Drive near Crown Perth around 10pm as a pre-arranged car club meeting was dispersing. Confronting mobile phone footage shows two cars taking off at speed as a crowd of bystanders watch at the roadside. The second car hits the girl and she flies into the air, the impact of her body shattering the windscreen of the black Honda Civic. The girl suffered serious internal injuries and was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in critical condition. The driver, a 25-year-old man, was uninjured. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said he expected the driver to be charged with speeding and dangerous driving. He confirmed police were aware of the event, with the group of car enthusiasts regularly hosting Monday meets, and that police had been present earlier in the evening, seizing a vehicle. '[The meets are] normally well-behaved … but it looks like there has been a person allegedly speeding and has hit a pedestrian,' he said. 'I have seen one piece of footage, which is very confronting, of the young girl being hit; I believe there were a number of people filming.' Blanch said the incident happened at the end of the meet, as people were exiting the area, and the police had left.
The Age
15-07-2025
- The Age
Girl critical after being hit by ‘speeding' car at Burswood street meet
A teenage girl is fighting for life in hospital after being struck by an allegedly speeding car during an organised car meet at Burswood on Monday night. WA Police said the 17-year-old was struck by the car on Camfield Drive near Crown Perth around 10pm as a pre-arranged car club meeting was dispersing. Confronting mobile phone footage shows two cars taking off at speed as a crowd of bystanders watch at the roadside. The second car hits the girl and she flies into the air, the impact of her body shattering the windscreen of the black Honda Civic. The girl suffered serious internal injuries and was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in critical condition. The driver, a 25-year-old man, was uninjured. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said he expected the driver to be charged with speeding and dangerous driving. He confirmed police were aware of the event, with the group of car enthusiasts regularly hosting Monday meets, and that police had been present earlier in the evening, seizing a vehicle. '[The meets are] normally well-behaved … but it looks like there has been a person allegedly speeding and has hit a pedestrian,' he said. 'I have seen one piece of footage, which is very confronting, of the young girl being hit; I believe there were a number of people filming.' Blanch said the incident happened at the end of the meet, as people were exiting the area, and the police had left.
7NEWS
13-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Gary Cahill: Adored grandfather on daily postie run when tragically killed in horror Bridgetown car crash
An adored grandfather and local postman had been on his daily postie run when he was tragically killed in a horror crash near the South West town of Bridgetown earlier this week. Mr Cahill was driving his Holden Commodore sedan station wagon when it crashed with a Toyota Landcruiser utility on Gommes Lane near Yornup — about 12.5km south of Bridgetown — on Monday morning. The 73-year-old suffered serious injuries and died at the scene. The occupants of the Landcruiser, including a 19-year-old male driver, received minor injuries. Monday marked the second tragedy in eight months for the family after Mr Cahill's son Glen Cahillwas allegedly king hit outside Hillarys Beach Club on Melbourne Cup day last year. He was left fighting for life after the attack but miraculously survived. In a statement to The West Australian, the Cahill family said Gary Cahill's sudden death had left a 'massive hole' in their family and the wider Bridgetown community. 'He was married to Karen for 49 years, always keeping her on her toes,' the family said. '(He was) the most fun-loving dad to Glen, Denise and Mandy, and 'gramps' to five grandchildren who absolutely adored him.' Mr Cahill worked in Bridgetown for more than two decades. 'He was the milkman in town for more than 20 years and more recently the postie,' the family said. 'He loved caravan adventures with his brother Lindsay and tinkering away on his vintage cars and caravans.' Police Commissioner Col Blanch said he was 'frustrated' by the rising number of road fatalities in WA and pleaded with drivers to stop touching their mobile phones. 'It's not just about the deceased, it's about their families, it's about the first responders, it's about the witnesses to those accidents,' he said. 'Road deaths have so much consequential damage, it's outrageous because most of them are preventable deaths. 'We did 2.4 million breath tests on the road in the last 12 months (and gave out) more enforcement fines than ever before, but that message about picking up your phone and paying attention is still not getting through to some of our drivers. 'My message to all drivers is to prioritise your life and the lives of others over what's on your phone.' Mr Blanch said he was looking at having to boost the major crash squad if the horror run continued. '(The numbers are) a constant review at the moment,' he said. 'They're managing the workload, but as we've seen in the last two weeks, I'll probably have to reassess that.' Shadow road safety minister Julie Freeman said the WA's road toll was at crisis point. 'We are on track for the worst road toll since 2008, when 205 Western Australians lost their lives,' she said.
