Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

The ACT has recorded its first road fatality for 2026 following a two-vehicle collision on the Monaro Highway this morning.

About 11:30am today (Friday, 9 January 2026) police and emergency services received reports of a collision between a car and a truck near the intersection of the Monaro Highway and Royalla Drive.

The driver of the car, a 25-year-old man, was treated at the scene by ACT Ambulance Service paramedics before being transported to hospital in a critical condition.

Sadly, he was declared deceased this afternoon.

ACT Road Policing’s Major Collision Team is investigating the circumstances of the collision and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Anyone who witnessed the incident who has not already spoken to police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference number P2414070.

A 45-year-old man has been charged with stalking his ex-partner and breaching a family violence order.

Police will allege the man breached a family violence order prohibiting him from contacting his ex-partner by sending her multiple emails between December and January.

The incidents were reported to police and on Wednesday (7 January 2026), the man was located in a carpark in Gungahlin.

When police attempted to arrest the man, he allegedly ran from the officers before being apprehended a short distance away.

He will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Friday, 9 January 2026), charged with nine counts of contravening a family violence order, aggravated stalking, attempting to escape from arrest, resisting a territory public official, and possessing an offensive weapon.

ACT Policing stands ready to assist victims experiencing family violence.

If you are in this situation – when it is safe to do so – please contact police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, or contact a support service who can assist with crisis support, safety planning and advice.

If you require assistance, you can contact:

• Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or life-threatening situation.
• Police Assistance on 131 444 if it is a non-emergency, but you require police assistance.
• The Domestic Violence Crisis Service provides a 24-hour crisis line, advice, safety planning and information every day of the year and can be reached on 02 6280 0900.
• The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre provides a 24-hour crisis line and can be contacted on 02 6247 2525

A 30-year-old man will face court after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman known to him at a party last year.

Police will allege in June (2025), the man attended a party in Moncrieff and sexually assaulted the woman while she was asleep.

The incident was reported to police and yesterday (Thursday, 8 January 2026), a search warrant was executed on the man’s vehicle.

He will face the ACT Magistrates court today (Friday, 9 January 2026), charged with reckless sexual intercourse without consent and committing an act of indecency without consent.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, you can report to police by attending a police station or calling 131 444.

You can also submit an online report for historical sexual assault for incidents that occurred more than six months ago.

UPDATE: Thanks Canberra, the missing 47-year-old man we posted about earlier today has been located safe and well this evening.

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ACT Policing is seeking the public’s assistance to locate missing 47-year-old man Jeremy Thurling.

Jeremy has not been seen or heard from since this morning, 8 January 2026, and is last believed to be in Kowen Forest.

He is described as Caucasian in appearance, about 180cm (5’11”) tall, with a heavy build and bald head.

Police and Jeremy’s family hold concerns for his welfare, and are requesting the public’s assistance to locate him.

Anyone who has seen Jeremy, or who may have any information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact ACT Policing on 131 444. Please quote reference number 8268707.

A 31-year-old Chisholm man will face court today after his alleged reckless driving resulted in a single vehicle collision.

About 11.00am yesterday (Wednesday, 7 January 2026) the man was allegedly driving his white Mitsubishi Lancer at speed and weaving in and out of traffic along Drakeford Drive in Bonython.

The man then allegedly lost control of the Mitsubishi Lancer causing it to hit a curb and roll a number of times, flattening a pedestrian crossing handrail and pulling a light pole from the ground.

About 11.15am police were called to the collision where they searched the man seizing two knives and an axe.

He was placed under arrest and transported to hospital with minor injuries.

The man will face the ACT Magistrates court today (Thursday, 8 January 2026) charged with property damage, use unregistered and uninsured vehicle, possess knife without reasonable excuse, reckless driving and numberplate issued to another vehicle.

Despite tomorrow’s conditions in the North East and North Central being milder than we have seen there are still significant fires in the landscape.  

There will be light east to south easterly winds as firefighters continue to battle large blazes. 

A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm on the day of the Total Fire Ban.  

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the TFB has been declared due to the fires still in the landscape. 

“Despite conditions easing we still need to mitigate all the risk we can so our focus can stay on the fires we already have in these districts,” he said. 

“We’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the Total Fire Ban declaration. 

“I appreciate that a TFB can have an impact on communities and business but be assured these restrictions are reviewed on a daily basis. This ensures we get the right balance between mitigation against new fires in the landscape and the needs of communities 

“Understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.” 

Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban on the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au, where it is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.  

For more information on what you can and can’t do visit the Can I or Can’t I page on the CFA website.  

Victorians should also make sure they have access to more than one source of information.  

They include: 

• The VicEmergency App