Martin Clark Crawford: Details of alleged late night axe attack on North West Coastal Hwy emerge

An itinerant traveller feels “lucky to be alive” after another man allegedly stalked him, attacking him and his vehicle with an axe, on a remote stretch of Mid West highway on Friday night. Kalbarri man Martin Clark Crawford, 59, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday charged with causing bodily harm, criminal damage and reckless driving. The court was told the incident unfolded about 11.40pm on Friday night on North West Coastal Highway in Ajana, about 40 minutes from Northampton. Police said the victim was driving when he noticed he was being followed by another car for several kilometres, so turned off on to Murphy Road and stopped. It is alleged Mr Crawford stopped behind him before he got out of his car and launched an axe attack on the driver and his car. Police allege both men are known to each other. The court was told Mr Crawford allegedly said “get the f... out of the car” and smashed the driver’s side window. The driver suffered minor injuries before he fled in his car from the area. However, police said the man continued to follow him and rammed his car from behind while driving on the quiet highway. Outside court, Samuel Entwistle said he was trying to find Galena Bridge late on Friday night, seeking shelter from the stormy conditions, when he crossed paths with the other motorist. He said after he pulled over, the alleged attacker repeatedly told him to get out of his vehicle and proceeded to smash his window and vehicle, and struck him once on the right hip. “It was terrifying … it was a bit unfathomable, I had no idea why he was there and what he was doing or what I had done to him,” Mr Entwistle said, adding his vehicle was his home and his sanctuary. “It was a very surreal experience “If I had got out of my car, I would have had no escape route … who knows what would have happened.” Mr Entwistle said his alleged attacker was an acquaintance he had met briefly before when he tried to seek advice on his veggie oil-run fuel tank. He claimed adrenaline and a survival instinct took over. “I needed to do something about it so survival instinct struck and I just turned the car on and drove and then he pursued me and that was really scary,” he said. Mr Entwistle alleged after he was followed for a few kilometres and rammed, the other motorists suddenly stopped and turned around. He drove to Binnu before stopping and calling police, still fearful he was being followed. “I’ve been travelling for 12 years and never experienced something like this before,” he said. “My general experience of travelling has been really beautiful. “I don’t want to make out WA as a extra scary place because I don’t believe it is. “I guess I’m lucky to be alive.” Mr Entwistle said he had been humbled by the support of some Geraldton locals who had offered him a place to stay and help in repairing his vehicle. Mr Crawford was arrested by Geraldton detectives in Port Denison on Sunday. Bail was not considered in court on Monday. He was remanded in custody to March 25 for legal advice, while a Legal Aid application has been submitted. After hearing the alleged facts in court, Magistrate Matthew Walton said it was an “extraordinary set of alleged offences”.