Axe-wielding car thief runs over woman in her own Ford Mustang and flees at 180km/h
Worrigee, NSW resident Caleb Flentjar is now in custody after being detained by members of the public near Kiama, following an hour-long police pursuit involving police helicopters and road spikes that ended in a crash with another car.
The pursuit started when police were called to a home east of Nowra just before 1:00pm on Saturday (July 12) after they received reports of a man seen armed with an axe and a hammer.
Upon their arrival, Mr Flentjar greeted officers from the South Coast Police District by throwing an axe at their vehicle, before he fled on foot and ran to a nearby home, where he allegedly assaulted a 66-year-old woman several times with the axe while she was sitting in the special Mustang GT.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The damaged Ford Mustang following the pursuit. Image credit: Nine News.
Police say he then forced her out of the car, before running her over and seriously injuring her legs and torso while driving away.
He then allegedly drove through Nowra, Bomaderry, Berry, Gerringong and Kiama at 180km/h, at times exceeding the speed limit by 100km/h.
Police said they deployed road spikes to end the pursuit, but Mr Flentjar narrowly missed them and a highway patrol officer after swerving, before the Mustang was detected by PolAir heading south on the wrong side of the Princes Highway at Kiama Downs about an hour later.
Soon after it collided with a ute, before Mr Flentjar attempted to run from the scene but was apprehended by good Samaritans and detained until police arrived.
He was arrested and taken under police guard to Wollongong Hospital, before being charged at Wollongong Police Station on Sunday with 11 counts of 10 separate charges.
They include the aggravated taking of a motor vehicle with a person in it while armed with a weapon; failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causes grievous bodily harm; using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful apprehension; driving while disqualified; pursuit; speeding; and larceny.
The offender was also charged with three outstanding offences over an unrelated incident last week, including a domestic violence-related charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Mr Flentjar was refused bail and will attend court on July 22, while the unnamed woman was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital in a serious but stable condition, then transferred to St George Hospital.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Man caught driving without bonnet and driver's seat now without car
Victoria Police says a man has been left without his BMW 3 Series after he was caught driving it without a bonnet… and sitting on a patio chair. Officers pulled over the 64-year-old Narre Warren South man on the afternoon of Monday, July 21 in Cranbourne North when they noticed it was missing its bonnet. Upon looking inside, officers noticed 'strange seat cushions', and soon realised the car had had its front seats removed. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The driver had instead been sitting on a plastic garden chair, and allegedly acknowledged he knew the car wasn't roadworthy. His excuse? He allegedly claimed he was heading to get some parts. Hopefully a bonnet and front seats were on his shopping list… Driving without those crucial items netted him a defect notice, and Victoria Police says he's expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences, though it hasn't published a full list.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Man caught driving without bonnet and driver's seat now without car
Victoria Police says a man has been left without his BMW 3 Series after he was caught driving it without a bonnet… and sitting on a patio chair. Officers pulled over the 64-year-old Narre Warren South man on the afternoon of Monday, July 21 in Cranbourne North when they noticed it was missing its bonnet. Upon looking inside, officers noticed 'strange seat cushions', and soon realised the car had had its front seats removed. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert The driver had instead been sitting on a plastic garden chair, and allegedly acknowledged he knew the car wasn't roadworthy. His excuse? He allegedly claimed he was heading to get some parts. Hopefully a bonnet and front seats were on his shopping list… Driving without those crucial items netted him a defect notice, and Victoria Police says he's expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences, though it hasn't published a full list.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Man caught driving without bonnet and driver's seat now without car
Victoria Police says a man has been left without his BMW 3 Series after he was caught driving it without a bonnet… and sitting on a patio chair. Officers pulled over the 64-year-old Narre Warren South man on the afternoon of Monday, July 21 in Cranbourne North when they noticed it was missing its bonnet. Upon looking inside, officers noticed "strange seat cushions", and soon realised the car had had its front seats removed. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The driver had instead been sitting on a plastic garden chair, and allegedly acknowledged he knew the car wasn't roadworthy. His excuse? He allegedly claimed he was heading to get some parts. Hopefully a bonnet and front seats were on his shopping list… Driving without those crucial items netted him a defect notice, and Victoria Police says he's expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences, though it hasn't published a full list. Content originally sourced from: Victoria Police says a man has been left without his BMW 3 Series after he was caught driving it without a bonnet… and sitting on a patio chair. Officers pulled over the 64-year-old Narre Warren South man on the afternoon of Monday, July 21 in Cranbourne North when they noticed it was missing its bonnet. Upon looking inside, officers noticed "strange seat cushions", and soon realised the car had had its front seats removed. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The driver had instead been sitting on a plastic garden chair, and allegedly acknowledged he knew the car wasn't roadworthy. His excuse? He allegedly claimed he was heading to get some parts. Hopefully a bonnet and front seats were on his shopping list… Driving without those crucial items netted him a defect notice, and Victoria Police says he's expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences, though it hasn't published a full list. Content originally sourced from: Victoria Police says a man has been left without his BMW 3 Series after he was caught driving it without a bonnet… and sitting on a patio chair. Officers pulled over the 64-year-old Narre Warren South man on the afternoon of Monday, July 21 in Cranbourne North when they noticed it was missing its bonnet. Upon looking inside, officers noticed "strange seat cushions", and soon realised the car had had its front seats removed. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The driver had instead been sitting on a plastic garden chair, and allegedly acknowledged he knew the car wasn't roadworthy. His excuse? He allegedly claimed he was heading to get some parts. Hopefully a bonnet and front seats were on his shopping list… Driving without those crucial items netted him a defect notice, and Victoria Police says he's expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences, though it hasn't published a full list. Content originally sourced from: Victoria Police says a man has been left without his BMW 3 Series after he was caught driving it without a bonnet… and sitting on a patio chair. Officers pulled over the 64-year-old Narre Warren South man on the afternoon of Monday, July 21 in Cranbourne North when they noticed it was missing its bonnet. Upon looking inside, officers noticed "strange seat cushions", and soon realised the car had had its front seats removed. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The driver had instead been sitting on a plastic garden chair, and allegedly acknowledged he knew the car wasn't roadworthy. His excuse? He allegedly claimed he was heading to get some parts. Hopefully a bonnet and front seats were on his shopping list… Driving without those crucial items netted him a defect notice, and Victoria Police says he's expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences, though it hasn't published a full list. Content originally sourced from:
