Arrests and cars confiscated at illegal Truganina street race
Two drivers allegedly clocked doing 125km/h in a 60km/h zone during an illegal hoon race in Truganina have had their cars seized.
Police & Courts
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A P-plate woman driver and a male learner have been busted racing at double the speed limit at Truganina in Melbourne’s west.
Officers from Operation Achilles have confiscated their cars after they were caught at 65km/h on a section of Palmers Rd.
The red Ford Falcon of the woman and the L-plate man’s grey Mitsubishi were allegedly doing 125km/h in a 60km/h area at 8.45pm on Thursday.
The 23-year-old male from Williams Landing had no L-plates on display and his tyres were worn to the inner plies.
He will be charged on summons with offences relating to high speed and the condition of the car.
The 22-year-old Williams Landing woman will be charged with failing to display P-plates and speed-related offences.
More than 200 drivers have been charged and 140 vehicles confiscated by Achilles officers in the past nine months.
Senior Sergeant Simon Borg of Achilles said it was no Grand Prix experience for Thursday night’s combatants.
“There was no flying through the flags, shoeys or podium finishes at the end of this
race. It finished with flashing blue and red lights in the rear-view mirror, a pair of
handcuffs and two cars being taken away,” Sen-Sgt Borg said.”
“These two have to look at topping up their Myki because if they want to see some
actual professional racing, they’ll have to catch the bus or the train instead to the
Grand Prix this weekend.”
It comes after two people were earlier this week arrested and had their luxury cars confiscated over separate hoon behaviour at Truganina back in March.
The loser in one race was clocked by police at 230km/h as spectators lined the roadway.
Investigators on Tuesday made arrests and confiscated prestige cars over the high-speed duel, watched by spectators lining the side of a road at Truganina.
The race was part of an underground meeting held on an 80km/h section of Boundary Rd.
It is alleged a police helicopter observed a car rocketing along at 230km/h on its way to coming second in one race.
Operation Achilles investigators have been investigating since the meeting, held in the early hours of March 13.
Officers from north west metro region carried out warrants at Caroline Springs and Craigieburn on Tuesday.
They seized a black BMW M4 coupe valued at $80,000 and a black Mercedes Benz C63 sedan valued at $90,000.
The licence of a Caroline Springs man, 21, has been suspended and he was charged with recklessly engaging in a speed trial, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, exceeding speed limit, driving in a dangerous manner, engaging in a race, driving a probationary prohibited vehicle and driving an unsafe vehicle.
He was bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on November 11.
A 22-year-old Craigieburn man faces charges of reckless conduct endangering
persons, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, committing an indictable offence while on bail, driving in a dangerous manner, unlawfully engaging in a speed trial, exceeding the speed limit and being a learner driver without an accompanying driver.
He was expected to appear in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Operation Achilles has charging more than 200 Melbourne hoon drivers and impounded more than 140 hoon vehicles in the past nine months.
They have a heavy focus on hooning hot spots and giving a quick response but also on carrying out investigations in the aftermath to arrest organisers, drivers and spectators not detained at the events.
Senior Sergeant Simon Borg of Operation Achilles said racing in the streets was not harmless fun.
“When you’re travelling at ludicrously high speeds with spectators lining the road, even the slightest error behind the wheel will result in devastation and tragedy,” Sen Sgt Borg said.
“Police will continue to saturate known hoon hot spots, as well as actively monitoring event organisers and participants, to ensure we can disrupt this activity before it occurs and keep the community safe.”
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