Two killed in horror Preston truck smash after police chase
A horrific fatal crash in Preston last night is believed to be part of a northern suburbs crime spree, with police pursuing a group of offenders in several allegedly stolen vehicles across multiple suburbs.
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A fatal crash which killed two people in Preston last night is believed to have been linked to a burglary and attempted car jacking earlier in the night.
Two men died when the allegedly stolen Toyota Kluger in which they were travelling crashed into a truck at the intersection of Bell and High streets.
Police believe two cars – a Mitsubishi Triton and a VW Golf – were stolen from Erica Ave in St Albans about 7.30pm on Tuesday.
Officers then tracked a black Toyota Kluger, which was believed to have been linked to the burglary, to Airport Drive in Tullamarine where they arrested a man and a woman.
A 24-year-old Emerald man and 24-year-old St Albans woman were interviewed and released pending further investigations.
A second man fled the scene about 8.45pm.
The Kluger, driven by the now-deceased men, then drove off and continued to evade police.
The pair were monitored from the air by Police Air Wing before stop sticks were deployed along the Western Ring Road.
A Victoria police spokeswoman said the pair then tried to carjack another vehicle on Regent St, Preston.
“A pursuit was initiated in Gower St in Preston and officers attempted to intercept the black Kluger travelling south on High St just after 10pm,” the spokeswoman said.
“The car failed to stop and shortly after, collided with a truck at the intersection with Bell St.
“Two male occupants in the Kluger died as a result of the crash.”
CCTV from the scene shows the truck travelling up Bell St, before the car flies through the intersection at High St and into its side.
A police car can be seen close behind in the moments after.
The intersection had been filled with other motorists only seconds earlier.
The driver of the truck and a man from another car were taken to hospital for observation.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said a man in his 30s has chest injuries and was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.
Another man was taken to the Austin Hospital in a stable condition.
The Major Collisions Investigations Unit are now investigating and the process will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.
Good lord. #bellstreet #preston pic.twitter.com/1pq8TAFzZS
— Dusty Pee (@DustyPee) February 4, 2020
The corner of Bell and High streets in Preston remains shut as crews remove the wreckage.
A shipping container, which is believed to have been on the truck at the time of the crash, is blocking much of High St.
Police, MFB and tow trucks are on scene.
A traffic light pole has been ripped from the median strip with its lights scattered across the road.
One man, who lives in an apartment on High St, said it sounded like “a big bang”.
“It sounds like a truck just went through,” he said.
Michael Foord, 31, lives on Bell St and said he heard the loud “bang” of the crash.
“My girlfriend and I were about to go to bed and we heard a few rapid loud bangs – which I interpreted as the car hitting the truck, then the truck (container) hitting the ground,” he said.
“It was a bang then bang, bang.
“Your ears prick up, so we went onto the balcony to have a look.
“I couldn’t believe how fast the police got here – within minutes.
“There was already 10-15 police cars – fire fighters, ambulance (too).
“I’m pretty sure they were using the jaws of life to try and get them (the deceased) out.
“There was a police helicopter – maybe a minute or two later.”
Mr Foord said one car, which he thought to be the stolen car, was caved in and came to rest on the opposite side of the road on Bell St.
“We could see the truck flipped over, a second vehicle over here (on the side),” he said.
“You could clearly see the Audi with the bonnet of the truck
He said one woman pulled over and went to help, but police had secured the scene within minutes.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said that the deceased were involved in a series of offences shortly before the crash.
“The Kluger (which crashed) was connected to a series of earlier offending prior to the pursuit, including a carjacking [ …] and an earlier aggravated burglary at a premesis in St Albans,” he told 3AW.
“The occupant [of the St Albans home] arrived home to see two people driving off in a Mitsubishi Triton and a VW Golf.
“We understand that some offenders from that original burglary got away from the house in the Golf and the Triton, and were tracked to a hotel in Sunshine.
“We then identified that the people connected with that vehicle had got into the Kluger, which police followed.”
Mr Cornelius said that police were unable to identify the victims of the crash.
“The injuries were very significant and we’re not in a position to provide an estimate [of age],” he said.
“We were able to arrest two people at a service station who we believe were connected with this group of offenders.
“Three people got out of that vehicle … one got away and we are obviously very keen to speak with this person.”
Mr Cornelius would not comment on the appropriateness of the police’s pursuit of the allegedly stolen vehicle.
“It’s not my position to say,” he said.
“It’s clear to me that these two individuals had numerous opportunities to see that police wanted them to stop, and they had numerous opportunities to do so.”
Mr Cornelius said that the police pursuit had been called shortly after the carjacking, which occurred shortly before the fatal crash.
Delays remain in place this morning and motorists are being urged to plan ahead with some road blocks still in place.
The intersection of High St and Bell St has been closed in all directions.
Delays are building rapidly in the area.
Drivers are also warned that Bell St is shut between Plenty Rd and St Georges Rd, and High St is closed between Gower St and Raglan St.
This is the scene out in Preston where two men have died after their allegedly stolen car slammed into a truck last night. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/2KwM2CwJqy
— Alanah Frost (@akfrost_) February 4, 2020
Drivers should consider using Murray Rd or Darebin Rd as an alternative to Bell Str, a statement from the Department of Transport read.
The closures are expected to be in place until midmorning while the investigation continues.
Drivers have been advised that St Georges Rd and Plenty Rd are still open, but should allow extra time for travel.
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Train commuters have also been advised by Metro Trains that the road closures on Bell St and High St will impact vehicle access to Bell Station and have been advised to use Preston or Thornbury station.
Bus route #513 is being diverted via Murray Rd and will experience delays.
Buses on route #552 and #553 are also being diverted.
Trams on Plenty Road are not affected, according to the Department of Transport.