Crash rates shock town’s new top cop

Newly appointed officer-in-charge at Dunsborough Police Station Sergeant Jane Gillham is shocked by the number of car crashes in the region and is urging vigilance on the roads as the population swells.

Sgt Gillham transferred from the Mid West about six weeks ago and while not able to divulge specifics on the crashes — some are still under investigation — she said the high number of crashes was putting pressure on first responders, many of whom were volunteers.

“Fire and rescue, the ambulances — these are volunteers, they have day jobs ... and they’re getting called out to crashes all day and night,” she said.

Sgt Gillham said there were some common threads.

“There are a lot of concealed driveways and some of the roads are quite narrow with deep drains, so there’s nowhere to go to take evasive actions,” she said.

“Every situation is different but it’s very important that people keep their eyes on the road and drive to the conditions.”

In the past few weeks there have been at least two car rollovers, and fortunately the vehicles’ occupants escaped with their lives.

One driver is believed to have swerved to miss a kangaroo, with the car ending upside down between two big trees.

“They were very, very lucky,” Sgt Gillham said.

Police are advising motorists to stay vigilant on the roads, particularly ahead of peak summer which draws an influx of visitors.

Sgt Gillham told drivers to leave their phones alone, or lock them in the glove box to avoid risking temptation.