By Melissa Cunningham
Davide Pollina was the son of Italian migrants who moved to Australia a decade ago to give him a better life.
But Pollina, who recently celebrated his 19th birthday, had his life tragically cut short early on Sunday morning when an allegedly stolen white BMW in Melbourne’s northern suburbs collided with his motorcycle. Police say two teenagers were inside the car, who fled the scene.
Davide Pollina was fatally injured when his motorcycle was struck by an allegedly stolen car.
A search is now under way for the driver accused of taking the life of a loving son, brother, partner and hardworking young man with so much of his life ahead of him.
A friend said Pollina’s death should help spark reform to tackle the youth crime surge in Victoria.
David Addison described Pollina as a respectful, intelligent and understanding person.
“This is a young man that I find easy to talk about positively as he was very positive himself,” Addison said.
“The system has to change to protect the unprotected.”
Addison, who worked with Pollina at Oceana Concrete Pumping, a concrete pumping company in Melbourne’s north, said it was a “tragic day”, and his friend was a loved team member.
“He was a very young man that was happy to start at the bottom of a career that would give him a solid future,” he said.
Pollina’s death has devastated his family and friends.
Pollina, from Wollert, was riding his motorcycle at the intersection of Bell and Victoria streets, Preston, when the crash occurred.
Police and paramedics performed CPR on Pollina, but he died at the scene.
Police allege the BMW and a Mazda were stolen from Pascoe Vale South about an hour earlier. A 16-year-old boy, alleged to be a passenger in the BMW, was arrested shortly after the fatal crash but released pending further inquires.
Pollina’s death comes five weeks after driver Will Taylor was killed in a collision with a stolen car allegedly driven by a 17-year-old in Burwood, and has reignited community outrage by propelling youth crime firmly back into the political spotlight.
Taylor, a doctor, was allegedly left for dead after his Toyota hatchback was hit by a Jeep Cherokee about 7pm on July 2 in Warrigal Road, Burwood.
Hours after Pollina’s death, Premier Jacinta Allan walked back support for Victoria’s plan to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 by 2027, amid weeks of renewed focus on youth crime in the state.
Tributes left in Burwood to William Taylor, who died in a fatal car crash in July.
The policy is expected to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Monday. Allan said the government knew it had to do more to address community concerns about youth crime.
Currently, children as young as 10 can be arrested, charged and jailed in juvenile detention, but a bill before parliament aims to lift the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12.
The government had previously vowed to lift the minimum age of criminal responsibility again to 14 by 2027, following pressure from Indigenous, legal and medical groups as well as the Greens.
But on Sunday, Allan repeatedly refused to recommit to the pledge made by then-premier Daniel Andrews in 2023.
Tama Curtis, who employed Pollina at Oceana Concrete Pumping for more than three years, said the 19-year-old was very family-orientated, bubbly and kind, and one of his best employees.
“Everyone wanted to work with him, everyone loved him,” Curtis said. “He loved his family, his girlfriend, his motorbikes and cars. We are not coping, to be honest. It’s hit me very hard.”
Curtis also called for law reform and said more to be done to tackle youth crime.
“Right now, the laws are screwed and as a society, we need to be doing more to stop this from happening,” he said.
“Davide’s parents are devastated. They have to bury their son. It just shouldn’t happen.”
A statement on Facebook from Lion Pumping, which is owned by Oceana Concrete Pumping, said staff were heartbroken by Pollina’s death.
“Our hearts are broken today, waking up to the devastating news of the passing of one of our most valuable employees, Davide,” the post reads.
“Taken well before his time, with his whole life to live. From everyone at Lion Pumping, we’re sending our deepest condolences to Davide’s family, partner and friends.”
The young man’s devastated father, Nicola Pollina, posted an image of his to social media with the caption, “Angelo mio”, which translates to “My angel”.
“RIP Davide, my life,” wrote another relative from Italy.
Curtis has established a GoFundMe account to help Pollina’s parents pay for their funeral costs.
“Davide was only 19, with a full life ahead of him,” the fundraising page says.
“He was a loving son to Eleonora and Nicola, a brother to Monica and Giovanni, the best uncle to Edoardo and Abigail, a partner to Sylvana, a best friend [to] Youssef, a much loved, dedicated and hardworking employee of OCP and Lion Pumping, and friend of many others.”
Police want to speak to any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage who was near Plenty Road or Bell Street, Preston, between 11.30pm on Saturday and 12.30am on Sunday. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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