Latest news with #ToyotaLandcruiser
7NEWS
26-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Female motorbike rider killed in collision on Princes Highway in Colac West, Victoria
A motorcyclist has died after being struck by two vehicles in a horrific crash on a Victorian highway. It's believed a red Mazda CX3 collided with a motorbike on Princes Hwy near Corangamite Lake Rd in Colac West just after 11.30am on Sunday. The motorbike rider, a 40-year-old woman, was then hit by a Toyota Landcruiser. She died at the scene. Both of the drivers stopped and assisted police. The 77-year-female driver of the Mazda was interviewed by detectives but released pending further investigation. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or has any relevant dashcam footage to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Higher speed limit in Canterbury not fast enough for some
Part of the Christchurch Southern Motorway now has a 110kmh speed limit, up from 100kmh. But, as reporter Dylan Smits and photographer Geoff Sloan found out, many drivers are going faster We were cruising down the motorway back towards Christchurch when a black Toyota Landcruiser overtook us in the right lane, travelling about 130kmh. It was the vehicle we clocked going the fastest, but on our circuit of the motorway from the city to Rolleston and back we saw most were travelling at 120kmh – 10kmh over the new limit. A 17.7km stretch of the motorway – between the Curletts Rd interchange in Middleton and the Weedons Rd interchange in Rolleston – became the South Island's first 110kmh state highway last month. Heading south, some drivers reduced their speed to 110kmh when the limit dropped to 100kmh near Rolleston. Others continued at 120kmh until reaching the 80kmh sign near Hoskyns Rd. On the return trip, most vehicles accelerated to 120kmh just before or shortly after re-entering the 110kmh zone from Rolleston, then slowed back to 110kmh once the limit dropped to 100kmh. As vehicles continued into Christchurch, most slowed to about 90kmh after passing the 60kmh sign at the end of the motorway near Barrington St before Brougham St. After the sign, all motorists eventually slowed to 60kmh over the next 300m of road. Some motorists eased from 120kmh to 110kmh when merging with traffic from off-ramps or as congestion increased. Although driving up to 10kmh over the speed limit will not get drivers ticketed by speed cameras, it is still illegal. But Police road policing manager Inspector Kelly Larsen said police have not encountered any 'significant issues' and speeding enforcement measures remained business as usual. AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen said an increase in the speed limit doesn't mean drivers will increase their speed by the same amount. 'How much people adjust their speed will depend on a number of things like the look-and-feel of the road, what speed vehicles were travelling at before the change and what speed naturally feels right to most people in that environment.' He said data studies from speed limit changes indicate a 10kmh change in the speed limit will generally see a change of only 3-5kmh in actual driving speeds. Rolleston resident Nicholas Grimmer, 30, uses the motorway four times a week to travel to work and was excited by the new limit. 'I love it, I'm a big fan. My only worry is that people who are not confident going 110 are sometimes in the right-hand lane, which is typically the quicker lane,' he said. Prebbleton resident Lucas McGillivray, 21, said the speed limit change had not affected his commute. 'I think the change is a good thing. Traffic can get pretty bad in the morning, but at the same time, is the difference between 100kmh and 110kmh actually going to do that much?'
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Higher speed limit not fast enough for some drivers
Part of the Christchurch Southern Motorway now has a 110km/h speed limit, up from 100km/h. But, as reporter Dylan Smits and photographer Geoff Sloan found out, many drivers are going faster We were cruising down the motorway back towards Christchurch when a black Toyota Landcruiser overtook us in the right lane, travelling about 130km/h. It was the vehicle we clocked going the fastest, but on our circuit of the motorway from the city to Rolleston and back we saw most were travelling at 120km/h – 10km/h over the new limit. A 17.7km stretch of the motorway – between the Curletts Rd interchange in Middleton and the Weedons Rd interchange in Rolleston – became the South Island's first 110km/h state highway last month. Heading south, some drivers reduced their speed to 110km/h when the limit dropped to 100km/h near Rolleston. Others continued at 120km/h until reaching the 80km/h sign near Hoskyns Rd. On the return trip, most vehicles accelerated to 120km/h just before or shortly after re-entering the 110km/h zone from Rolleston, then slowed back to 110km/h once the limit dropped to 100km/h. As vehicles continued into Christchurch, most slowed to about 90km/h after passing the 60km/h sign at the end of the motorway near Barrington St before Brougham St. After the sign, all motorists eventually slowed to 60km/h over the next 300m of road. Some motorists eased from 120km/h to 110km/h when merging with traffic from off-ramps or as congestion increased. Although driving up to 10km/h over the speed limit will not get drivers ticketed by speed cameras, it is still illegal. But Police road policing manager Inspector Kelly Larsen said police have not encountered any 'significant issues' and speeding enforcement measures remained business as usual. AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen said an increase in the speed limit doesn't mean drivers will increase their speed by the same amount. 'How much people adjust their speed will depend on a number of things like the look-and-feel of the road, what speed vehicles were travelling at before the change and what speed naturally feels right to most people in that environment.' He said data studies from speed limit changes indicate a 10km/h change in the speed limit will generally see a change of only 3-5km/h in actual driving speeds. Rolleston resident Nicholas Grimmer, 30, uses the motorway four times a week to travel to work and was excited by the new limit. 'I love it, I'm a big fan. My only worry is that people who are not confident going 110 are sometimes in the right-hand lane, which is typically the quicker lane,' he said. Prebbleton resident Lucas McGillivray, 21, said the speed limit change had not affected his commute. 'I think the change is a good thing. Traffic can get pretty bad in the morning, but at the same time, is the difference between 100km/h and 110km/h actually going to do that much?'
The Age
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Perth businessman accused of laundering millions of dollars for ‘criminal' clients
He then accompanied officers to a storage unit in Canning Vale where a search warrant allegedly revealed a safe containing almost $750,000 in bundles of $50 and $100 notes. A search of Puttick's phone also allegedly found encryption software with messaging capabilities that could not be intercepted. Puttick was also at the time a recipient of JobSeeker and Newstart allowances from Centrelink, Chu told the jury, and therefore did not have the legitimate financial capacity to have been in receipt of large sums of cash. One of Puttick's clients, 31-year-old concreter Riley Hutchinson, who has pleaded not guilty to four counts of engaging in transactions that involved money or property that was the proceeds of an offence, became a member of PPL Finance in January 2020, the court was told. Between April and November 2020, $284,000 was allegedly transferred to a business he owned from PPL Finance. The money was then used to buy a Mercedes Benz, a Toyota Landcruiser and a Volkswagon Tiguan, Chu told the jury. Chu said the money, which he alleged was the proceeds of crime, had been given to Puttick to launder in cash before it was transferred back to him in the guise of a legitimate loan. He claimed Hutchinson's tax returns revealed he had an annual income of just over $50,000, which was not sufficient to purchase such expensive cars. Hutchinson denies the allegations. Husband and wife Stefano and Anita Bova are also on trial alongside Puttick and Hutchinson, having both been charged with one count of engaging in transactions that involved money or property that was the proceeds of an offence. Chu told the jury the couple had become members of Puttick's business in early 2020, and in March of that year, 42-year-old Anita Bova registered a company with a linked trust account with the help of Puttick through PPL. She then purchased a commercial property in Bayswater for $450,000, and Puttick transferred $310,000 to her settlement agent to help fund the purchase of the property, the court was told. Chu alleged this was to ensure Puttick 'created distance' between himself and the money, which the couple allegedly originally gave to him in cash. Chu told the court Puttick had been paid a $35,000 fee for his efforts. The pair deny the allegations and Stefano Bova's lawyer, Christian Porter, told the jury his client had received the money through an inheritance and fixing up vintage cars through a panel and paint business, which he was usually paid cash for. Loading Porter told the court his client 'emphatically denied' the money was the proceeds of crime. The fifth person on trial, 31-year-old Shaun Collard, also became a member of PPL in early 2020. Chu told the jury Collard was the sole director of a company called Green is Good Pty Ltd, while his brother, who is not on trial or facing any charges in relation to the money laundering, was the shareholder of a separate company. Chu alleged Collard was the sole beneficiary of a trust fund linked to both companies and that $147,000 was transferred from PPL to those two companies. He alleged Collard used that money to purchase a Toyota Landcruiser and claimed police found cash, a firearm and ammunition, as well as a hydroponic cannabis operation during a search of his Halls Head home. Collard is facing four counts of engaging in a transaction that was the proceeds of an offence, one count of possession of drugs with an intent to supply, one count of stolen or unlawfully obtained property and one count of fraudulent appropriation of property. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty in front of the jury to cultivating a prohibited plant with the intention to supply or sell but denies all the other charges. Chu told the jury 'little to nothing' was known about how the money being laundered was created, and described the case as 'circumstantial'.
Sydney Morning Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Perth businessman accused of laundering millions of dollars for ‘criminal' clients
He then accompanied officers to a storage unit in Canning Vale where a search warrant allegedly revealed a safe containing almost $750,000 in bundles of $50 and $100 notes. A search of Puttick's phone also allegedly found encryption software with messaging capabilities that could not be intercepted. Puttick was also at the time a recipient of JobSeeker and Newstart allowances from Centrelink, Chu told the jury, and therefore did not have the legitimate financial capacity to have been in receipt of large sums of cash. One of Puttick's clients, 31-year-old concreter Riley Hutchinson, who has pleaded not guilty to four counts of engaging in transactions that involved money or property that was the proceeds of an offence, became a member of PPL Finance in January 2020, the court was told. Between April and November 2020, $284,000 was allegedly transferred to a business he owned from PPL Finance. The money was then used to buy a Mercedes Benz, a Toyota Landcruiser and a Volkswagon Tiguan, Chu told the jury. Chu said the money, which he alleged was the proceeds of crime, had been given to Puttick to launder in cash before it was transferred back to him in the guise of a legitimate loan. He claimed Hutchinson's tax returns revealed he had an annual income of just over $50,000, which was not sufficient to purchase such expensive cars. Hutchinson denies the allegations. Husband and wife Stefano and Anita Bova are also on trial alongside Puttick and Hutchinson, having both been charged with one count of engaging in transactions that involved money or property that was the proceeds of an offence. Chu told the jury the couple had become members of Puttick's business in early 2020, and in March of that year, 42-year-old Anita Bova registered a company with a linked trust account with the help of Puttick through PPL. She then purchased a commercial property in Bayswater for $450,000, and Puttick transferred $310,000 to her settlement agent to help fund the purchase of the property, the court was told. Chu alleged this was to ensure Puttick 'created distance' between himself and the money, which the couple allegedly originally gave to him in cash. Chu told the court Puttick had been paid a $35,000 fee for his efforts. The pair deny the allegations and Stefano Bova's lawyer, Christian Porter, told the jury his client had received the money through an inheritance and fixing up vintage cars through a panel and paint business, which he was usually paid cash for. Loading Porter told the court his client 'emphatically denied' the money was the proceeds of crime. The fifth person on trial, 31-year-old Shaun Collard, also became a member of PPL in early 2020. Chu told the jury Collard was the sole director of a company called Green is Good Pty Ltd, while his brother, who is not on trial or facing any charges in relation to the money laundering, was the shareholder of a separate company. Chu alleged Collard was the sole beneficiary of a trust fund linked to both companies and that $147,000 was transferred from PPL to those two companies. He alleged Collard used that money to purchase a Toyota Landcruiser and claimed police found cash, a firearm and ammunition, as well as a hydroponic cannabis operation during a search of his Halls Head home. Collard is facing four counts of engaging in a transaction that was the proceeds of an offence, one count of possession of drugs with an intent to supply, one count of stolen or unlawfully obtained property and one count of fraudulent appropriation of property. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty in front of the jury to cultivating a prohibited plant with the intention to supply or sell but denies all the other charges. Chu told the jury 'little to nothing' was known about how the money being laundered was created, and described the case as 'circumstantial'.
