Grass fires along the Hume Highway on Tuesday night were allegedly caused by a man whose erratic driving sparked the blazes and led to the discovery of a large sum of cash and drugs, police say.
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A 23-year-old man will face Wagga Local Court on Thursday on a string of charges relating to drugs, dangerous driving, dealing with the proceeds of crime and a range of others over the fire.
The arrest was made after police received reports of a vehicle driving erratically on the Hume Highway near Tarcutta.
Police say the vehicle allegedly smashed into guard rails several times, causing the tyres to deflate and sending sparks into the nearby grassland.
In dry and windy conditions, a number of fires took hold and spread along the highway, with the centre median strip and western side of the Hume between the Sturt and Snow Mountains highways experiencing "significantly-sized" burns.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop two kilometres south of the Snowy Mountains Highway.
Police spoke with the driver at the scene and allegedly discovered MDMA, cocaine and approximately $17,000 in cash - suspected to be the proceeds of crime - during a search of the car.
He was taken to Wagga police station and charged with dangerous driving, possess prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug, deal in proceeds of crime, resist/hinder police and additional charges in relation to recklessly causing the fire.
The highway was closed for several hours as 28 firefighters fought to contain the blazes near Tarcutta and Mundarlo, reopening again shortly before midnight.
Annie Lewis
Have a tip? Email me at a.lewis@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Have a tip? Email me at a.lewis@austcommunitymedia.com.au
