Three teens have been charged over a deadly crash involving an allegedly stolen car in Melbourne’s inner east this week.
Police claim a group of teens were travelling in a stolen Jeep which ploughed into a Toyota hatchback at an intersection on Warrigal and Highbury in Burwood on Tuesday evening.
The impact of the collision claimed the life of the driver of the hatch, a 28-year-old man from Ashburton.
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Two girls were arrested at the scene while a number of male teens fled the scene on foot through Burwood Reserve, police say.
Witnesses told 9News the victim’s car spun through the intersection before crashing into a resident’s brick fence.
“They got him out of the car, put him on the lawn tried to revive him but obviously they were unsuccessful,” neighbour Peter said.
Another witness told 9News he was driving only seconds behind the Toyota while on a trip for ice cream with his wife.
“It just could have been me, I was preparing to turn right into Warragul Road waiting for the lights and then an explosion happened,” he said.
The man managed to stop the two teenage girls from making an escape.
“I grabbed one of the females and she threatened to bash me if I didn’t let her go, and I kept telling her, ‘You’ve just killed somebody, you’ve just killed somebody’,” he said.
The girls were taken to hospital under police guard.
At about 8.30pm last night, a 17-year-old boy was also arrested.
The two girls have since been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, police said this morning.
They have been bailed to attend children’s court at a later date.
The 17-year-old boy has been charged with culpable driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, fail to stop and render assistance, theft of motor vehicle and unlicensed driving.
He was refused bail to appear before children’s court today.
Police are urging anyone who comes across suspicious items in the Burwood Reserves parklands, including weapons or clothing, to contact police.
The Jeep Cherokee involved in the crash was allegedly stolen on Friday in Cranbourne South.
Police are calling on anyone who witnessed the crash or who has CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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