Man fights for life after drive-by shooting in Epping

Neighbours have described hearing screams and loud gunshots amid a suspected drive-by shooting in Epping which left a man fighting for life.

An Epping man is fighting for his life after he was shot on the doorstep of a northern suburbs home in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It’s understood the 22-year old was shot about 1.15am on Dorothy Ave in Thomastown in a suspected drive-by shooting.

Victoria Police said he self-presented to a hospital about 10 minutes later with suspected gunshot injuries. He remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A grey Range Rover, which was peppered with bullets, was also dumped at the Epping hospital.

Bloodstains and bullet holes could be seen at the northern suburbs street on Saturday as Armed Crime Squad detectives and forensic officers continued their investigation.

Neighbours said they heard the man screaming in pain and loud gunshots.

“I heard gunshots, about 6 or 7, and then I saw the lightening of the gun,” one neighbour, who did not wish to be identified, said.

“I heard screaming and shouting and the car taking off.

“The guy that got shot was screaming, ‘I’m dying!’”

She added, “it was frightening, I thought they shot me too.”

Another neighbour said, “it was so scary … we didn’t open the door because we were waiting for the police.”

Detectives are still hunting for the shooter and have urged anyone with information to come forward.

“The exact circumstances (of the incident) are yet to be determined,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

Boozed driver’s staggering blood alcohol reading

A driver was busted in Croydon at allegedly more than four times the alcohol limit, leaving police shaking their heads.

An automated number plate recognition site in the area alerted the police officers to the vehicle at around 9.20pm, when the driver returned an alleged breath test of 0.212.

The 45-year-old Mooroolbark man’s vehicle was impounded for 30 days at the cost of $1555, as well as an immediate suspension of his license for 12 months.

The driver is expected to be charged on summons with unlicensed driving and drink driving offences.

Police are targeting impaired driving, speed, distraction and fatigue in high-risk areas throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria as part of Operation Compass over the Easter period.

Driver rescued after veering onto tracks

The driver was rescued before his car was struck by a train.

Tradies have rescued a driver just moments before a train crashed into his vehicle after it veered on to the tracks in Melbourne’s north on Thursday afternoon.

Dramatic dashcam footage captured the frightening moment the train hit a car. A black Toyota Camry is seen stopped on the tracks before a Craigieburn-line train collides with it near Coolaroo station.

Reggie Racep and Huseyin Ozdemir came to the driver’s aid after they spotted the car during their way back home from a job. It’s understood the motorist had suffered a medical episode.

Mr Racep said pure adrenaline helped the pair lift the unconscious driver out of the vehicle.

“As we were taking him out, he came back (to consciousness) a bit … he didn’t know where he was,” Mr Racep told 9 News.

“He is lucky to be alive.”

Mr Ozdemir said the train ploughed into the vehicle only two minutes after the man was rescued.

The footage was submitted to Dashcam Owners Australia, which then distributed it on social media.

The group posts dramatic dashcam footage sent in by motorists.

Onlookers reportedly came to the rescue of the driver and passenger, removing them from the car before the train hit.

Police believe the driver suffered a medical episode, losing control of the car before it ended up stuck on the tracks.

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A man was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition with no obvious injuries, Ambulance Victoria said.

Bystanders were seen waiting beside the scene as the train approached.

Some moved from the imminent collision to the road, but most of the group stayed only metres away when the train collected the car.

The car was then dragged along for a brief time before spinning down onto the stones beside the tracks, leaving the vehicle severely damaged.

Onlooker Allan Upoko took to a Broadmeadows community group on Facebook to recount the incident, explaining two passengers had been saved from three men who pulled them out of the car.

“Luckily three guys pulled out two person (sic) that was stuck in the car before the train rammed it down the tracks,” he said.

“Luckily both survived. I just wanna thank those three guys and I really appreciate what you’ve done today. Just saved two people’s lives.”

According to the Department of Transport, it can take a train several hundred metres to stop after a driver applies emergency brakes.

“Bystanders are urged to move as far away as possible during emergency situations and should always maintain a safe distance from the rail line,” a Metro Trains spokesperson said.

“You can call Triple-0 to report any emergency on the rail network.”

Man drowns at St Kilda Beach

A man has drowned off St Kilda Beach after entering the water on Thursday night.

An hour-long search led to the discovery of the body after police responded to calls a man had not returned from the water about 11.30pm.

Local authorities joined the Water Police and Air Wing in the midnight probe, eventually finding a man who could not be revived.

The man is yet to be formally identified.

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner and will await the result of an autopsy, but are not treating his death as suspicious.

Fatal crash in Elwood

A man has died after being hit by a motorcycle in Elwood on Thursday night.

The 32-year-old Balaclava man was struck on Brighton Rd, near Dickens St, about 11.20pm.

A man has died after being struck by a motorcycle in Elwood on Thursday night.

He was taken to hospital but could not be saved.

The male motorcycle rider, a 19-year-old from Hampton, sustained serious injuries and was also taken to hospital.

Police are investigating the incident.

The fatality takes the 2022 road toll to 76, up from 66 at the same time last year.

It comes as police on Thursday night launched Operation Compass in a crackdown on speeding, fatigue and irresponsible behaviour on roads until after Anzac Day.

It is the 12th road fatality this month and sixth in the past week.

Two consecutive long weekends following a horror start to the year means road safety is a chief priority for Victoria Police, Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said on Wednesday.

“This year poses an additional challenge, with the Easter and Anzac Day public holidays falling over consecutive weekends,” Mr Weir said.

“As a result, we’ll be conducting an extended operation this year to coincide with both weekends.

“This follows a record low number of lives lost for March, which just shows how easily trauma can occur if we don’t all make road safety a priority.

“We’ll be doing everything we can to prevent more lives being lost – expect to see lots of police, lots of police vehicles and plenty of alcohol and drug testing during this period.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision, with dashcam footage or further information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.