Driver of stolen car crashed into newlyweds in Wantirna South, killing both

A PAIR of newlyweds from Victoria were in the wrong place at the wrong time at 1am. This tragic photo says it all.

MATT Goland’s grieving parents hold each other at the spot where they lost their son. It’s a heartbreaking moment from a devastating scene.

Mr Goland, 38, and his wife Bita Zaeim, 32, died in the early hours of Saturday morning after the Holden Commodore they were travelling in was crushed by a vehicle in an alleged hit and run.

The couple, married only a year earlier, have been remembered by friends as well-liked and fun loving.

Tributes talk about the couple’s many plans for the future — plans that were tragically ripped away from them in one horrific moment.

Photos show the mangled wreckage of the couple’s car after a $170,000 Lexus collided with it at high speeds shortly after 1am on the intersection of Stud and Boronia roads in Wantirna South, in Melbourne’s east.

Police allege the driver was Eric Victorsen, 19, and that the vehicle he was driving was stolen during an earlier home invasion.

They will allege he was accompanied by a girl, aged just 15, and that Victorsen ran a red light before smashing into the vehicle’s left hand side and running from the scene.

The parents of Matt Goland embrace after their son was killed in a horror smash on Saturday morning. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Mr Goland died in the crash. His wife was taken to hospital but did not survive her injuries.

Ms Zaeim was originally from Iran but came to Australia to study at Victoria University. She was working for a software management company where a colleague described her as “ridiculously smart”.

Other friends posted their tributes on Facebook describing Ms Zaeim as a “beautiful soul” and Mr Goland as “one of the nicest guys you could ever meet”.

The couple, who married in Bali in May last year, met on an online dating site after giving up hope of ever finding the person of their dreams.

“We met the love of our lives when we had no hope of finding a soulmate for ourselves,” a post by the couple read.

Matt Goland and Bita Zaeim had been married less than a year when their lives were cruelly snatched in an alleged hit and run.

CCTV from the crash site shows two security guards from a nearby hotel approach the scene before the teen pair allegedly fled. One of the guards managed to grab the teenage girl as she allegedly fled the scene, pulling off her jacket in the process.

The heartbroken parents of Mr Goland later attended the horror smash.

Acting Supt Stuart McGregor told media on the weekend that speaking to Mr Goland’s parents who had been notified of their son’s death was one of the hardest things he had done in his career.

“I’ve had to stand at the intersection with the parents of one of the deceased, I’ve been able to explain how it has occurred but not why,” Supt McGregor said. “This behaviour is abhorrent. No one in the community can under­stand why.

“The image of the mum and dad of the male passenger will probably stay with me for the rest of my life.”

The parents of the Matt Goland at the scene of the horrific accident. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A manhunt for the young pair alleged to have rammed Mr Goland’s car led police to Mr Victorsen and the 15-year-old girl at a residence in Judkins Ave, Belgrave.

On Sunday, Mr Victorson appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of culpable driving and stealing. He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to reappear in court on April 24.

His counsel told the court he had an acquired brain injury and an intellectual disability, and would need to see the custody nurse as soon as possible to address those issues.

The Age reported that Mr Victorson appeared distressed as he sat through the court proceedings with two security guards on either side.

The teenage girl, from nearby Belgrave, was also charged with being an accessory and will face a children’s court at a later date.

The crash scene at Stud and Boronia roads, Wantirna South. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Matt Goland and Bita Zaeim were killed when the car they were in was hit by a stolen car on Saturday night.

Police allege the teenagers travelled at “horrendous speeds” before the crash. The owner of the stolen vehicle told the Herald Sun she was shocked to discover the luxury SUV had been taken from her Lysterfield home two nights earlier.

On Friday night, she saw the car being driven again and immediately rang triple-0.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was unreal,” Monna Mostafa said. “So I went after him. I wasn’t going to let him go.”

Eric Victorsen, 19, was allegedly driving the stolen vehicle.

At the crash site, friends and family gathered to pay their respects to the victims.

“We love you M & B,” one person wrote. On Facebook, the tributes flowed.

“So shocked to hear about this,” one man wrote. “One of the nicest guys you could ever meet with such a bright future. RIP Matt.”

— with AAP