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Australia

Oakey hit and run victim 47yo Trudy Wright Dodd remembered in tributes

A woman smiling

Oakey woman Trudy Wright Dodd has been remembered as a “beautiful soul” with a “smile that would light any room” after she died in an alleged hit and run.

Ms Dodd’s body was found on the side of 4AK Road in the town, north-west of Toowoomba, on Saturday morning.

Investigators believed she was struck by a car sometime between midnight and 8am.

A tip off from a member of the public led police to the vehicle suspected to be involved in the incident.

The driver was assisting police with their inquiries and police were yet to lay any changes.

Ms Dodd’s work colleagues remembered the 47-year-old for her generosity.

She worked at Distributors TCW, a confection wholesaler in Toowoomba, and was recently recognized for more than five years’ service with the company.

“Trudy Wright Dodd, my good work colleague, supervisor and friend, you were and always will be in my thoughts,” Rodney Bugeja wrote on social media.

“Thank you for all your generosity and understanding towards me whilst I worked at TCW, you were an absolute pleasure to work under.”

A police officer on a road in Oakey
A police officer at the site of the suspected hit and run which resulted in the death of Ms Dodd near Oakey.(ABC News: Lucas Hill)

Another colleague said Ms Dodd was “nothing but a beautiful soul” and she had a “smile that would light any room.”

Ms Dodd was also a longtime supporter of the local Oakey Bears rugby league club.

“Our football community has been rocked by this tragedy,” the club said in a statement.

“The Oakey Bears Senior RLFC are shocked and deeply saddened by news we have lost one of our great longtime supporters Trudy Dodd.”

The Forensic Crash Unit is continuing to investigate Ms Dodd’s death.

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Categories
Entertainment

Anne Heche on life support, ‘not expected’ to survive injuries suffered in car crash

Anne Heche smiles toward the camera at a red carpet event

Anne Heche is on life support after suffering a brain injury in a fiery crash a week ago and her survival is not expected, according to a statement from a representative.

The actor — who is in a coma and in critical condition — is being kept on life support for possible organ donation, according to the statement released Thursday night on behalf of her family and friends.

Heche — who’s been hospitalized at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital north of Los Angeles — suffered a “severe anoxic brain injury,” the statement said.

Such an injury is caused by a sustained lack of oxygen to the brain.

“She is not expected to survive,” the statement said.

“It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she is being kept on life support to determine if any are viable.”

On the morning of August 5, Heche’s car smashed into a house in a neighborhood in west Los Angeles and a fire erupted, with the car embedded inside the home.

Earlier on Thursday, local time, police said they were investigating Heche for driving under the influence.

Detectives with a search warrant took a sample of her blood and found narcotics in her system, LAPD spokesperson Officer Jeff Lee said.

Toxicology tests — which can take weeks to complete — must be performed to identify the drugs more clearly and to differentiate them from any medication she may have been given for treatment at the hospital.

Evidence is still being gathered from the crash, police said, and they would present a case to prosecutors if it is warranted when the investigation is complete.

A representative for Heche declined comment on the investigation.

Ellen Degeneres cocks her head to the side and looks at Anne Heche as Heche smiles
Anne Heche (right) had a high-profile relationship with Ellen Degeneres in the late 1990s. (AFP: Hector Mata)

On Tuesday, Heche spokesperson Heather Duffy Boylston said her client had been in a coma since after the accident, with burns that required surgery and lung injuries that required the use of a ventilator to breathe.

“Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit. More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life’s work — especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love,” Thursday’s statement said.

“She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light.”

Heche, 53, was among the most-prominent film stars in Hollywood in the late 1990s, playing opposite actors including Johnny Depp (Donnie Brasco) and Harrison Ford (Six Days, Seven Nights).

Her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres from 1997 to 2000 heightened her fame and brought immense public scrutiny.

In a 2001 memoir, she discussed her lifelong struggles with mental health.

She recently had recurring roles on the TV series Chicago PD and All Rise and, in 2020, was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars.

ABC/Wires

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Categories
Sports

Piastri’s stance has knock-on effects for other teams

Piastri's stance has knock-on effects for other teams

LONDON, Aug 10 (Reuters) – Oscar Piastri’s rift with Alpine has also forced a change of plan at Williams and could have a knock-on effect around the Formula One paddock.

While the main focus has been on Renault-owned Alpine and McLaren, who both want the 21-year-old Australian to drive for them next season, tail-enders Williams have had to reassess their next step.

Alpine’s original plan was to loan their reserve, and last year’s Formula Two champion, to Williams for at least a year and possibly more until he returned as Fernando Alonso’s replacement.

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The principle was the same as when Mercedes placed George Russell for three seasons at Williams to learn the ropes before bringing him back as team mate to seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Talks were so far advanced that the Australian had a seat fitting at Williams and a contract for 2023 was drawn up between the two teams, with Alpine having already agreed on Piastri’s salary.

Then Alonso decided to race for Aston Martin next year and Piastri, offered the Alpine seat, said no — with a McLaren deal apparently more tempting. read more

Piastri would have replaced Canadian Nicholas Latifi at Williams, the only driver on the starting grid who has yet to score a point in 13 races this season, alongside British-born Thai Alexander Albon.

Latifi brings sponsorship and could potentially retain the seat, with many of the potential replacements lacking such financial clout.

With Alpine currently fourth in the championship and Williams last, the seat spurned by Piastri is the most attractive.

If Alpine do not take McLaren’s soon-to-be-discarded Australian Daniel Ricciardo, then they may be in the same market as Williams.

One possibility who stands out is current Formula E champion and 2019 Formula Two title-holder Nyck de Vries, a Mercedes F1 reserve who has already taken part in Friday first practice with Williams.

De Vries, 27, is also looking for a seat for 2023, with Mercedes pulling out of Formula E after selling their championship-leading team to McLaren.

Williams have 21-year-old American Logan Sargeant on their books, with team boss Jost Capito saying last month that he saw the F2 driver as a prospect for the future, but it may be too early for him. read more

The future of Mick Schumacher, currently with Ferrari-powered Haas, has yet to be determined while China’s former Alpine academy driver Guanyu Zhou is having a solid first season at Alfa Romeo.

Alfa, run by Swiss-based Sauber with former Renault team boss Fred Vasseur at the helm, have 18-year-old French F2 prospect Theo Pourchaire on their books as a talent for the future.

Beyond that there are racers looking for a way back into Formula One and others, such as India’s Jehan Daruvala, hoping for a door to open from the junior series.

“I’ve had all sorts of people (calling),” Alpine principal Otmar Szafnauer told Reuters this week. “Some of the guys in the junior formulas, some of the Formula E guys. Maybe eight or 10.”

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Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Categories
Business

Holden recalls almost 14,000 vehicles over brake booster manufacturing defect

A Holden ZB Commodore vehicle in the colour white

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has issued recall notices to the owners of 13,898 Holden ZB Commodore cars.

In a statement, the department said a manufacturing defect with the vehicle’s brake boosters could “increase the risk of an accident” and cause “serious injury or death.”

The vehicles in question were sold to drivers from 2018 to 2020.

“Due to a manufacturing defect, the brake booster may fail,” the department said in its statement.

“If this occurs, the stopping distance in the un-boosted condition would exceed the distance prescribed by the Australian Design Rule (ADR) 31/03.”

The department said the vehicles were “not compliant with the vehicle standard (ADR) 31/03-Brake Systems for Passenger Cars”.

If the brake booster failed to operate as intended, the department said, “it could increase the risk of an accident causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and/or other road users.”

A full list of the affected vehicle identification numbers has been provided by the department.

Affected owners offered free software update

The department said owners of affected cars would be contacted by General Motors Australia and New Zealand.

Drivers have been asked to contact their local dealer to have the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) software updated, free of charge.

While the update is free, it’s up to vehicle owners to organize a time to have the task done.

So, if you’re affected, get in touch with your nearest Holden dealer to check availability.

ZB is last Holden model with iconic Commodore badge

The German-sourced ZB was the last Holden model to feature Holden’s iconic Commodore name.

At the end of 2019, the automobile manufacturer announced it would withdraw both the model and the Holden brand in Australia and New Zealand in 2020.

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Categories
Australia

Mount Isa man in custody over alleged murder of 13yo girl

Man charged with murder after alleged hit-and-run in Mount Isa, north-west Queensland

Mount Isa man Trevor Caulton has been arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly drove a vehicle into a crowd of people, hitting and killing a 13-year-old girl.

Emergency services were called to the corner of Delacour Drive and Dent Street in the Mount Isa suburb of Pioneer after midnight on August 6 and treated the girl for critical head injuries.

Police confirmed she succumbed to her injuries and died at the scene.

Mr Caulton’s lawyer appeared on his behalf via phone at the Mount Isa Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

A full brief of evidence was being prepared and the case would appear for mention at Mount Isa Magistrate’s Court on September 26.

The victim was identified and her family had been contacted, police said.

Dent and Trainor
Paramedics treated the victims at the site of the incident near Dent Street in Pioneer.(ABC North West Queensland: Emily Dobson)

Fears of retribution prompt police warning

Police have called for calm in the community after the tragedy.

Police man talking in front of microphones at press conference.
Mount Isa Police Acting Superintendent Smith asked the community to assist investigators.(ABC Far North: Brendan Mounter)

“I do have concerns about unrest in the community — this is a distressing case and this poor girl’s life has been taken,” said Mount Isa Police Acting Superintendent Jason Smith.

“We acknowledge the grief in the community and we implore everyone to remain calm around this incident and to assist police with the investigation.

“Sometimes in our community there can be an urge from some to seek retribution. Please know the law has been executed, the alleged offender is in jail and police have done as much as they can.”

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Categories
Entertainment

Actor Anne Heche in hospital after car crashes into Los Angeles house, starts fire

Anne Heche smiles toward the camera at a red carpet event

Actor Anne Heche has been hospitalized after a crash in which her car smashed into a house and flames erupted, according to a friend.

“Anne is currently in a stable condition. Her family and friends ask for your thoughts and prayers and to respect her privacy during this difficult time,” Heather Duffy Boylston, Heche’s friend and podcast partner, said in a statement.

Earlier reports suggested Heche was in hospital in a critical condition.

Heche’s speeding car came to a T-shaped intersection and ran off the road and into the house in the Mar Vista section of Los Angeles’ westside shortly before 11am Friday, Los Angeles police officer Tony Im said.

The car came to a stop inside the two-storey house and started a fire that took nearly 60 firefighters more than an hour to put out, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

The LAFD reported that the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was rescued after being critically injured in the crash.

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Television news video showed a blue Mini Cooper Clubman, badly damaged and burned, being towed out of the home, with a woman sitting up on a stretcher and struggling as firefighters put her in an ambulance.

No other injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made. Police are investigating.

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A native of Ohio, Heche first came to prominence on the US soap opera Another World from 1987 to 1991.

She won a Daytime Emmy Award for the role.

In the late 1990s, she became one of the hottest actors in Hollywood, a constant on magazine covers and in big-budget films.

She co-starred with Johnny Depp in 1997’s Donnie Brasco; with Tommy Lee Jones in 1997’s Volcano; with Harrison Ford in 1998’s Six Days, Seven Nights; with Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Phoenix in 1998’s Return to Paradise, and with an ensemble cast in the original 1997 I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres from 1997 to 2000 heightened her fame and brought immense public scrutiny.

Ellen Degeneres cocks her head to the side and looks at Anne Heche as Heche smiles
Anne Heche (right) had a high-profile relationship with Ellen Degeneres in the late 1990s. (AFP: Hector Mata)

In the fall of 2000, soon after the two broke up, Heche was hospitalized after knocking on the door of a stranger in a rural area near Fresno, California.

Authorities said she had appeared shaken and disoriented, speaking incoherently to the residents.

In a memoir released the following year, Call Me Crazy, Heche talked about her lifelong struggles with mental health and a childhood of abuse.

She was married to camera operator Coleman Laffoon from 2001 to 2009.

The two had a son together.

She had another son during a relationship with actor James Tupper, her co-star on the TV series Men In Trees.

He has worked consistently in smaller films, on Broadway, and TV shows in the past two decades.

She recently had recurring roles on the network series Chicago PD and All Rise, and in 2020 was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars.

Better Together, the podcast hosted by Heche and Duffy Boylston, is described online as a celebration of friendship.

ABC/wires

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Categories
Australia

Body found in submerged car at Adelaide’s West Beach along with second car

A police four-wheel drive parked across a boat ramp

The body of a man has been found in a submerged car near the West Beach boat ramp in Adelaide.

Police had been called at 6am after reports of two cars being in the water.

They had reportedly gone into the water at some stage overnight.

Water police searched the scene and found the body.

Western District detectives, Major Crime and forensics officers are investigating the incident.

The State Emergency Service is assisting with a search along the beach.

Police say they will disclose more information when it is known.

Rock groynes and a beach with seaweed on it with storm clouds
The West Beach boat ramp as seen from the Marine Safety SA webcam at midday.(Marine Safety S.A.)

Police have asked anyone who attended the boat ramp overnight or anyone who has any information that may assist to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

There has been strong winds overnight and this morning in Adelaide, with likes of more than 50kph being recorded at nearby Adelaide Airport at midday.

The boat ramp is operated by West Beach Parks and was recently upgraded by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

West Beach is located west of Adelaide Airport and north of Glenelg, in Adelaide’s western suburbs.

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Categories
Australia

Out-of-control car crashes into front yard of Flinders Park home, leaving path of destruction

Damaged car and debris out the front of a suburban home

South Australia Police are investigating an incident at Flinders Park last night where a car crashed into the front yard of a home, causing significant damage.

Sylvia and Giovanni — who did not want to provide their surname — said the car crashed into the yard of their Collingwood Avenue home about 7.15pm.

“I just heard this almighty bang, and it sounded almost like a bomb,” Giovanni said.

The car crashed into brick walls, a Stobie pole and two parked cars.

Giovanni said that, if the car had not hit the fence, it would have gone through their front windows.

“If you look at the marks on the road from the car, the trajectory, it would have been into our bedroom or lounge. [We’re] just lucky,” he said.

A woman in a dressing gown stands in front of her house with her arms folded
The crash caused significant damage to the front yard of Sylvia’s Flinders Park home. (abcnews)

Sylvia said the driver of the car was knocked unconscious.

“I rang up the police straight away … I saw the air bags and I saw two car seats at the back, children’s car seats, and I thought, ‘Oh, my God, I hope there’s no children in there’,” she said .

“I pushed the air bags away and no children but the driver was unconscious.”

A neighbor checked the man’s pulse while Sylvia was on the phone to the police.

“Then five minutes, he came to … and the next thing he pushed us and he just ran, he just bolted down the street, he was bleeding,” Sylvia said.

“There’s a young lad that chased after him around the corner. He should have gone in the Commonwealth Games, I said to him — and her ran in thongs — I don’t know how he did it.”

A damaged car sits in the front yard of a suburban house.
The driver was knocked unconscious but when he came to, he allegedly bolted down the street. (abcnews)

A 46-year-old man from Flinders Park was later taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with minor injuries.

Two cars had to be towed away and SA Power Networks had to attend to fix the Stobie pole, which had been badly damaged.

“It was just scary, the noise. We didn’t know what it was. My heart went out and you just don’t know, split second somebody could have been killed,” Sylvia said.

Police investigations are ongoing.

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