News from the Police

Tasman Police

Ute stuck in the Waimea River. Photo Police

Successful water rescue, Appleby

A man has been successfully rescued after his vehicle became submerged in the Waimea River earlier this morning.

At around 6:30am Police were alerted to a ute stuck in the water, near Appleby Bridge.

The water was reported to be up over the bonnet and rising.

The man sought refuge on the back of his ute while he waited for emergency services to attend.

He was successfully extracted by the Swift Water Rescue Team shortly after 7am.

The man had no apparent injuries, but was very cold and being checked over by ambulance staff.

Plans to recover the vehicle are underway.

Police want to make special mention to everyone who assisted in the man’s successful rescue.

Update: Missing Maruia Falls swimmer

Police can now release the name of the man missing at Maruia Falls.

He is Mikhail Buchanan, also known as Mikhail Anderson, 26, of Christchurch,.

“This continues to be an incredibly difficult time for Mikhail’s family and friends, and we want to be in a position to provide them with closure,” says Nelson Bays Area Commander Matthew Scoles.

Searching continued over the weekend and included searching of the river bank, camera searches of pools that were unable to be accessed by the Dive Squad due to conditions, and a chute downstream of the falls. However due to water conditions visibility was an issue throughout the weekend.

“Over the past 10 days the search teams have been confronted with considerable challenges due to the weather and river conditions but have made use of all search windows available,” says Inspector Scoles.

“This has included searches of the river by the Police National Dive Squad, Nelson Dive Club, Swift Water Rescue Team and Nelson Surf Rescue, and onshore support and bank searches by Police Search and Rescue members."

In total teams have searched the area of the falls and about two kilometres downstream.

Police expect to reassess in the coming days and determine whether further searching is possible in current conditions.

Appalling driver behaviour disappoints Nelson Police

Nelson Police are appalled at the driving behaviour of some motorists following an operation on State Highway 6 Whakatu Drive on the weekend.

During the three-hour operation across Friday and Saturday nights seven people were processed for drink driving and 12 notices issued for excessive speed and insecure loads.

Nelson Bays Road Policing Acting Senior Sergeant Tyson Martin says those caught speeding were often inexperienced young drivers breaching their licence conditions and carrying passengers. Depending on the offence a restricted or learner driver could be liable for an infringement fine, have their vehicle impounded or licence suspended.

He says Police have previously detected high speeds in the area so we will continue to target road users who create a risk on our roads.

In the past year, Police have attended multiple crashes, as well as 119 reports of insecure loads on Whakatu Drive and the Richmond Deviation alone.

“The flow-on effect of an insecure load dropping onto the motorway creates serious hazards to vehicles and occupants and can significantly reduce commute times,” says Acting Senior Sergeant Martin.

“Please slow down – secure the load on your vehicle or trailer – and do not drink and drive.”

A reminder to make a report to 105 if you see any unsafe driving with as much detail as possible. If there is an immediate safety risk call 111.

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