A man on bail allegedly crashed a stolen truck into a car at high speed, instantly killing the 67-year-old hatchback driver, after a police pursuit through Melbourne’s west.
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir described the death as a needless “waste of human life” after the white Nissan truck allegedly sped through a red light and slammed into a car turning right on Ballarat Road in Footscray about 4.30am.
A truck collided with a car early Monday morning at the corner of Ballarat Road and Moore Street, Footscray. Credit: Paul Jeffers
Weir said the impact pushed the 2011 Toyota Corolla about 70 to 80 metres into a tree, killing the Taylors Hill man.
The driver of the allegedly stolen truck, a 40-year-old Deer Park man, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He is expected to be charged with “serious offences” once he is deemed medically fit for a police interview.
“It makes you sick in the stomach because it is such a waste of human life that criminals choose to take this type of action,” Weir said. “Look at what’s happened overseas in the last week. You just sort of shake your head with, what’s wrong with people ... Why are people behaving in this manner?
“The rest of the community should be outraged at this – we are.”
Weir said the driver was on bail after being charged with the theft of a motor car, driving while unlicensed, and possessing drugs on November 11.
In a statement, Victoria Police said the truck was first reported as being in Beveridge about 2.30am, but the driver left before police arrived.
The vehicle was seen in a Laverton industrial estate and Truganina about 3.15am, prompting police to call in the air wing as units on the ground tried to intercept it near Peterpaul Way and Schembri Drive. However, the driver sped off.
Weir said the police helicopter saw the truck driving on the wrong side of the road, disobeying traffic signals and travelling at speed while police on the ground tried to keep their distance and devise a plan to safety intercept it.
The aftermath of a crash on Ballarat Road early on Monday.Credit: Paul Jeffers
Police said the truck collided with another vehicle on Hopkins Road in Truganina, but no one was injured.
After the police air wing had to disengage to refuel, Weir said, “the driving of the vehicle became more and more extreme”. The tactical Special Operations Group was called in, and the air wing resumed following the truck as it sped towards the city, but it soon crashed at the Moore Street intersection on Ballarat Road.
Professional standards command, the internal police unit that investigates the force’s conduct, will oversee the major collision investigation unit probe into the crash as police were still deemed to be in pursuit of the vehicle. However, Weir said: “The police helicopter was keeping observation and there was no active pursuit at the time.”
Weir added that police on the ground were on the scene of the collision within minutes, but when asked if a police vehicle was within “a couple of hundred metres” of the truck when it crashed, said: “No.”
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir.Credit: Joe Armao
The road policing command assistant commissioner said the force had a “very robust pursuit policy” and officers had conducted several risk assessments during Monday’s pursuit.
“It’s one of the toughest things we do is to try and stop people who need to be stopped because they’re going to cause harm to themselves or the public,” Weir said.
A police statement said initial enquiries suggested the truck was stolen in Kalkallo on January 3 before it was found in Derrimut and the owner contacted on January 5. “The truck, it appears, was then re-stolen from Derrimut,” police said.
Weir said the driver of the allegedly stolen truck was under police guard in hospital on Monday afternoon and would have his blood tested to check whether alcohol or other drugs were in his system.
The driver of the car died at the scene, and the truck driver is under police guard in hospital.Credit: Paul Jeffers
“This is something that keeps me awake at night, worrying about the activity that some people are undertaking: the complete disregard for community safety, the arrogance and high-level criminal behaviour that these people are engaging in,” Weir said.
“And this is always a risk that something like this is going to happen. It’s an absolute tragedy.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision or with footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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