An international motorcyclist taking part in a riding tour of Tasmania has died after he was hit by a stolen vehicle, while the driver allegedly behind the wheel remains on the run.
The rider, a Malaysian national, passed away at the scene of the crash on the Murchison Highway shortly after 9:25am on Friday.
Tasmania Police Acting Inspector Craig Harvey said two other men were taken to hospital with injuries, including one who was flown to the Launceston General Hospital.
“The gentleman who died was riding in a group … of tourists from Malaysia on a … motorcycle riding holiday and they obviously witnessed the event,” Harvey said.
“One of the vehicles has been identified as a stolen motor vehicle, the driver of which has fled the scene, and police are currently searching for that person.”
“We haven’t identified [him] as of yet, but we currently have significant resources in the Yola area, including the Westpac helicopter and numerous uniformed and a plain clothes officers, searching for [the driver].”
The suspect is believed to be around 30-years-old and is described as a slim-built Caucasian, approximately 168 cm tall, with dark hair and an unshaven beard.
Harvey urged anyone who might have seen the man in the Yolla area or noticed any suspicious behaviour to immediately contact the police and “not to approach” him.
“We have no set time frame as to when the search will finish. We will continue on as long as it takes to find our person that we’re looking for.”
“We will leave no stone unturned to locate this person, identify them and bring them to justice.”
Harvey said it was “too early to say” who caused the crash, with crash investigation services and the criminal investigation branch still examining the scene.
“We’re now at 31 road fatalities for Tasmania this year and one death on Tasmanian roads is too much,” Harvey said.
“You can be sure that Tasmania Police will be out in force on the roads over this coming holiday period, both in marked and unmarked vehicles.”
“We would ask people to obviously allow plenty of time for their journeys, be respectful of other road users and consider their own safety and safety of other road users.”
Meanwhile, a 77-year-old Elliot man has died in an unrelated motorcycle crash at Brittons Swamp 20km southwest of Smithton.
Person dead after serious hit-and-run crash on Murchison Highway at Yolla
2pm, Friday December 2: A person has died after a serious three-vehicle crash on the Murchison Highway at Yolla this morning.
Emergency services remain at the scene near number 1794 and expect the road to be closed for some time while debris from the crash are cleared.
Police say officers are continuing to search for a male driver of one of the vehicles who ran from the scene shortly after 9:25am on Friday.
He is described as being slim-built caucasian around 168cm tall, with dark hair and an unshaven beard.
“Our thoughts are with the person’s family and loved ones at this difficult time,” police said.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
10:45am, Friday December 15: A driver has run off from the scene of a serious crash involving two cars and a motorbike in north-west Tasmania this morning.
Police say officers are working to locate the individual who fled the remote scene on the Murchison Highway at Yolla around 9am on Friday.
The person is described as being a Caucasian man, with a slim build, about 168cm tall, with dark hair, and an unshaven beard.
Anyone with information about a person of this description in the Yolla area today, or who has information about the crash on the Murchison Hwy at Yolla about 9.25am, is urged to contact police on 131 444.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been dispatched to the area, although it remains unclear whether it will be utilised for search operations or to transport an injured person.
One person has reportedly sustained severe injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment at the scene.
Police ask motorists to avoid the area until the crash has been cleared.
Police respond to serious motorcycle collision on Tasmania’s Murchison Highway
9:34am, Friday December 15: Motorists are being asked to avoid the Yolla area of the Murchison Highway on Tasmania’s West Coast after reports of a serious crash involving a car and motorcycle this morning.
Police and Emergency Services are responding to the incident at Yolla (near number 1794) which was called in shortly before 9:30am on Friday.
Authorities say details of injuries are not yet known at this stage.
