NEWS DESK
Riders charged over hit-run death Tragedy: Eighteenyear-old Caleb Jakobsson was arrested, left, over the hit-run death of mother-of-two Andrea Lehane at Carrum Downs Regional Shopping Centre, right, last week. Pics: Gary Sissons
Continued from Page 1 Ms Lehane, a nurse, had children aged three and four. Their dad took them to see the floral tributes laid as a mark of respect to their mum. Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit made the arrests at Frankston police station Friday afternoon and Saturday with the “person of most interest” – the rider of the bike which struck Ms Lehane – the last to be charged after handing himself in. CCTV footage shows the monkey bike allegedly driven by Mr Jakobsson – carrying a pillion passenger – colliding with Mrs Lehane as she nears the end of the crossing. The rider falls off and the passenger runs away while Mrs Lehane lies on the bitumen. The rider quickly gets back on and – disregarding his victim’s plight – quickly rides off in a westerly direction. Police later described the behaviour of the five motorcycle riders as “callous”. Off-duty Frankston SES member Steve Wall, who was shopping at the regional centre, witnessed the aftermath of the incident and was one of the first
to assist the stricken woman near the entrance to Safeway. “When I got out of my car she must have just been hit,” he said. “The little bikes drove past very fast.” “I started to walk towards the shop and I saw people running towards her. She was in a poor state. I got a blanket and put it over her and waited until the paramedics arrived.” Mr Wall praised the efforts on an offduty female paramedic who eased Mrs Lehane’s immediate suffering. He and another shopper used a blanket to shield the injured woman from bystanders while ambulance officers treated her. Some witnesses chased the riders but couldn’t catch them. Monkey bikes were banned by Frankston Council in 2007. The bikes, which can travel at up to 70kph, are not allowed on public roads or footpaths. The speed limit in the car park where Ms Lehane was struck is 10kph. A crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for Ms Lehane’s family had raised more than $40,000 by Sunday evening. See the ‘Andrea Lehane Memorial Account’ at gofundme.com
Council: dob in ‘monkey bikers’ FRANKSTON Council has urged people to report anyone illegally riding a monkey bike on public roads or footpaths in the wake of the death of 34-year-old mother of two Andrea Lehane after a collision at Carrum Downs Shopping Centre last Wednesday. “This will affect so many lives. Our hearts go out to her friends and family through this difficult time,” Frankston mayor Cr Sandra Mayer said. Frankston Council resolved to change its local law in October 2007 to ban monkey bikes on public roads and increase police powers to impound unregistered motor vehicles. “Prior to the decision, these unregistered motor vehicles were increasingly becoming an issue, due to growing residential noise complaints and frequent use on footpaths, parks and carparks,” Cr Mayer said.
“They were also driving illegally on the road, posing a danger to other road users and pedestrians.” Frankston Council is currently holding 10 monkey bikes, eight of which were seized by police in the past 12 months. “Council also has the power to destroy seized unregistered motor vehicles – however we do allow a reasonable amount of time for them to be collected before we destroy them,” said the Mayor. “We also plead with parents to refrain from buying unregistered motor vehicles for children in suburban areas. Children are not aware of the road rules and pose a potential risk, not only to themselves, to other community members.” Anyone with hoon complaints or information related to the Carrum Downs fatal incident, can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Poison canisters danger warning for beaches BEACHGOERS are being reminded not to open any containers washed up on Frankston beaches. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority warned toxic canisters in the Torres Strait, Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania. The unlabelled silver canisters contain a rat poison known as aluminium phosphide. When a canister is opened, powder reacts with moisture in the air to release highly toxic phosphine gas which is a danger to humans. While there have been no reported cases in Victoria and currents make it likely these containers will not find their way to Port Phillip Bay it is a reminder for all beachgoers to report mystery canisters washed ashore at any time. Exposure to phosphine gas can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, breathing dif-
ficulties, dizziness, tightness of the chest, diarrhoea, fluid in the lungs, liver/kidney damage, and in severe cases death. The gas is also flammable and can spontaneously ignite causing burns or small explosions. Most aluminium phosphide is imported into Australia from China and Africa, and the unused nature of the canisters suggests they have come from an unreported shipping cargo loss sometime before February 2012. The AMSA will monitor the situation and provide technical advice to local hazmat and emergency response services when the canisters are washed ashore. Queensland and NSW fire and emergency services have dealt with over 40 canisters washed up in three years. Canisters should not be moved or opened and any sightings should be reported to emergency services on 000.
Toxic danger: Rat poison, also a danger to humans, is in containers washed up on beaches.
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BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK PAGE 10 Frankston Times 28 September 2015