‘They drove like lunatics’: hoons descend on St Kilda

Witnesses of a hoon meet-up in St Kilda have told of the moment they thought “someone was going to die” as dangerous drivers wreaked havoc.

Witnesses of a large hoon meet-up have told of the moment they thought “someone was going to die” as dangerous drivers wreaked havoc in Dandenong and St Kilda.

Hundreds of hoons descended upon the Elwood and St Kilda beach area on Thursday in a wild late-night car meet-up.

Police were called to multiple reports of the hoon meet-up surrounding the Elwood BP petrol station on Marine Parade on Thursday night.

It is understood the gathering started about 9pm and went for several hours.

Footage shows hundreds of people road blocking traffic, with hoons performing burnouts, jumping on moving cars and climbing up traffic lights.

A man, who asked not to be named, said he rode along with the group after seeing a Facebook post, which he thought was strictly a car enthusiast meet-up.

The Facebook post, sent to Leader, said: “Tonight! 9pm meet Dandenong BP, Hammond Rd. Will cruise via Dingley Bypass and Beach Rd to St Kilda BP.”

“We all met at the BP in Dandenong and everyone was just showing off their cars at the start, but then people started to do burnouts and it was out of control,” he said.

“It only takes one person to ruin it all for us, it’s really shocking and disappointing.”

The crowd in Elwood. Picture: Snapchat

Hoons perform burnouts in Elwood. Picture: Snapchat

Another witness, who asked not to be named, said the group were “dicing with death” at Marine Parade in St Kilda.

“What they were doing was dangerous and deadly, I honestly thought someone was going to die,” she said.

“People were literally jumping on cars as they did burnouts, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“This was meant to be a safe car meet-up and we never have any issues and we work with police.”

Locals have posted to social media sharing their dismay over the event.

“It was madness,” a woman named Angel posted to social media.

“They drove like lunatics, once police got there they threw and smashed bottles on police cars. Police pepper sprayed them from their windows.

“It was crazy.”

It comes as police issued a warning to hoon drivers there would be “zero-tolerance” over the long weekend.

“(It’s) just disgusting, inappropriate, unacceptable and unattractive,” Bek wrote on Facebook.

“So what the police made an announcement about the hoon laws! Those hoons just proved that’s why there is this law!”

Locals have ramped up calls for a stronger police presence after it took “about two hours” for cops to respond to numerous calls about the incident.

“Outbound in Ormond Esplanade, Glen Huntly Rd lights are being used as though it’s the starting grid of the F1. Noise last night was deafening, never yet seen a camera or mobile units here as enforcement or deterrent,” Kirk said.

“It’s so predictable – happens every night past 9pm whenever the temperature is over 25 degrees at night … (police will) ping you for being 3km/h over the limit in broad daylight but feel free to run a custom car and bike burnout and engine noise competition at night … madness,” Jason posted.

“I called police who took 20 mins (to arrive) then they were gang mobbed in their cars. It was so violent and horrendous,” Christy wrote.

“Bogan mania! Cops were scared! It was the loudest thing I’ve ever heard!”

Gangs descend on Elwood. Picture: Snapchat

Crowds in Elwood. Picture: Snapchat

Prahran Highway Patrol members are investigating the “large crowd gathering” in St Kilda on Thursday night.

They said officers were called to Marine Parade about 10.50pm after reports that an illegal gathering was occurring and a number of vehicles were performing burnouts and other illegal activity.

“On arrival police noticed that Marine Parade had been blocked to north bound traffic by the participants,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.

“While officers were making initial assessments of the crowd a number of people advanced on Highway Patrol members.

“Officers deployed OC spray to disperse the crowd.

“A police car was damaged by the crowd and rocks were thrown.

“A number of other units attended the scene, including the Police Air Wing, and the crowd was successfully dispersed.”

They added that a number of offences were committed including breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s instructions.

Investigators wish to speak to anyone with further information, CCTV or dashcam footage and they are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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