‘It could have come through my window’ says woman after car crashes through fence

Limestone Coast police are voicing concerns for road safety after a recent spate of poor driving caused thousands of dollars in damages.

Over the past weekend alone, two separate instances of a driver hitting and causing extensive destruction to fences were recorded.

Acting Operations Manager for the Limestone Coast, Senior Sergeant Natasha Elliott, urged drivers to think about their own safety and the safety of others amid South Australia’s rainy season.

“At this time of the year, certainly in the last week, we’ve had a fairly continual amount of rain,” Senior Sergeant Elliott said.

“I would suggest that has probably been a contributing factor in a majority of these incidents.”

Police are continuing an investigation into an incident at Allendale East, where perimeter fencing surrounding an electricity substation was completely bowled over.

Social media post

The incident is believed to have happened after a car also crashed into the fencing, between 1.30 pm on Thursday, July 1, and 12.30pm on Friday, July 2, at the site on Lithgows Road.

Police said it was lucky the electricity substation was not damaged.

In a separate incident, a 21-year-old man reported himself to authorities after allegedly hitting fencing at a private property on a cul-de-sac off Wireless Road East in Mount Gambier, late into the evening on Saturday, July 3.

Police said it was thanks to the social media presence of the incident that led to the 21-year-old coming forward.

The man will receive a summons to appear in court at a later date.

“The driver himself saw the incident on social media, which has then caused him to come forward,” Senior Sergeant Elliott said.

Homeowner alarmed

“It could’ve come through my lounge window,” said Tess King, who was home at the time of the incident, only metres away from the fence.

“[It was] amazing work by the police and a big ‘thank you’ to the community for getting the word out there,” she said.

The man will be reported for due care and failing to report a collision.

In a similar incident just last month, a 27-year-old man was also reported to police, accused of hitting a guard rail near the Hatherleigh Drain, almost falling into the water below, before allegedly leaving the scene.

The Rendlesham man was reported for driving without due care and failing to report a crash and will also appear in court.

Senior Sergeant Elliot said it was lucky no-one had been seriously injured.

“There’s an obligation for people to report an incident,” he said.

“I think the majority of the community would do the right thing; it’s just sometimes people panic.

“If you do that, you can make things right by later on,” she said.