WA Police Force officers have charged a 47-year-old woman with various offences after it is alleged on Monday 23 August 2021, she drove through the border of SA and WA without stopping.
Around 10.10am, the woman who was driving a Volvo wagon and towing a caravan, approached the border of South Australia and Western Australia on the Eyre Highway. It is alleged the woman drove through the border crossing where she had been directed to stop and supply the relevant approvals for both quarantining and the G2G pass. The woman allegedly failed to stop as directed and continued through the border without speaking to police.
Officers in a police vehicle activated their emergency lights and sirens and it is alleged the woman failed to stop and accelerated away. The woman allegedly drove erratically causing the caravan to move from side to side unpredictably.
It will be alleged the woman came to a stop on the Eyre Highway as she had a police vehicle both in front of her vehicle and behind. As police approached the vehicle, the woman put the vehicle, still towing the caravan, into reverse at speed, making heavy contact with the unmarked police vehicle (Toyota Prado), before angling her vehicle towards an officer and driving at speed, resulting in the officer taking evasive action to avoid being struck. The caravan eventually dislodged from the vehicle, travelling onto the incorrect side of the road and into the bush. The woman drove away from speed as the Volvo was now free of the caravan.
It is further alleged when the woman came to a stop and was approached by police officers she yelled at them before opening the driver's door armed with a large glass jar which contained an unknown liquid. The woman smashed the glass and liquid near the feet of an officer and attempted to light the liquid on fire. The woman then got inside the Volvo, drove around officers and fled.
The unmarked police vehicle did not try and intercept the vehicle but followed the vehicle at a safe distance and approximately 40 minutes later the woman drove in a truck rest bay. Police stopped their vehicle behind her and it is alleged she reversed the Volvo at speed towards the police vehicle. The officers were able to drive away to avoid the collision.
Police maintained their distance from the woman who eventually turned around and drove in an easterly direction back towards Madura Roadhouse where she was taken into custody.
The 47-year old woman of no fixed address was charged with:-
• Two counts of Reckless Driving to Escape Pursuit by Police;
• Two counts of Driver of a Vehicle Failed to Comply with a Direction to Stop (circumstance of aggravation);
• One count of Unlawfully Casts/Throws any Such Fluid/Substance on any Person;
• One count of Endanger Life, Health or Safety of a Person;
• One count of Assault with intent to Prevent Arrest of a Person;
• One count of Failed to Comply with a Direction (Emergency Management Act).
She is due to appear before the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court today, 24 August 2021.
