Girl fights for life after falling from roof of moving car in Altona
Two men have been charged after a teenage girl was left in a serious condition in hospital after falling from the roof of a moving car.
Victoria
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Hundreds of people were on the Esplanade in Altona celebrating Samoa’s Rugby League World Cup win on Monday night when a teenage girl allegedly fell from a car roof and was left with serious head injuries.
It is alleged the 17-year-old was on the roof of a Mini Cooper with three friends near the Esplanade and Davies St about 11.30pm.
Allegedly all tumbled from the moving sedan on to the ground when it turned.
The teenager was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
But by Tuesday afternoon her condition had improved to serious.
A 21-year-old Braybrook man was arrested in Altona on Tuesday afternoon and later charged with seven offences including dangerous driving causing serious injury, recklessly cause serious injury and failing to assist.
The man was also charged for not driving without an appropriate supervising driver while being on a learner’s licence.
A 21-year-old Caroline Springs man was charged with reckless conduct endanger serious injury and drive in a manner dangerous.
Both men have been bailed and will appear in front of Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 30, 2023.
A third man aged 20 was also presented to a police station and was interviewed by police on Tuesday.
Footage of the wild celebrations uploaded to social media showed cars packed along the Esplanade with people dancing on vehicles and doing burnouts.
Reggae tunes can be heard blasting from speakers as supporters waved Samoan flags to celebrate the country’s quarter-final win over France.
One man dressed in traditional Samoan attire was seen dancing on a shipping container and hyping up the crowd below.
Celebrations began at 4pm on Monday and carried on until 11pm – about the time the horrific incident is understood to have taken place.
Neighbours said they saw police helicopters circling.
“It was bigger than New Year’s Eve … there were at least 500 people here,” a nearby resident, Fiona Parks, said. “It was like a parade.
“Everyone was really friendly, they weren’t aggressive, which is why we didn’t call the police.”
It is the second time in as many weeks that celebrations had taken place on the Esplanade to celebrate Samoa’s world cup wins.
Another neighbour said that while “the rowdy celebrations” were not alcohol fuelled, “police were clearly outnumbered”.
Officers remained on scene several hours after the horrific fall, doorknocking residents late into the night and seeking CCTV footage of the incident.
Two girls were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, one with a serious head injury.
“The girl is believed to have hit her head when she has fallen and is in a critical condition in hospital,” a police spokesman said.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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