By Ashleigh McMillan
Two teenagers have died after a stolen car in which they were travelling crashed into a tree in Melbourne’s outer east on Sunday morning.
A passing motorist discovered the crash scene on Kelletts Road in Rowville, about 30 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD, at 2.35am.
The crash scene in Rowville, where two teenagers died.Credit: Nine News
Two male teenagers were found dead at the crash site. They are yet to be formally identified through DNA testing.
The stolen car was taken from a property on Emica Parade in Knoxfield overnight, about five kilometres from the crash site. A second car taken from the same property has not been located by police.
Detectives from the major collision investigation unit arrived at the crash scene just before sunrise. Investigators undertook crash modelling just before midday, with a police vehicle driving down the stretch of road involved before braking heavily.
A woman who lives near the crash scene and did not want to be identified said she was awoken by the sound of loud, screeching tyres before hearing a huge bang in the early hours of Sunday.
Victoria Police Superintendent Matthew Baynes said the aggravated burglary in Knoxfield probably occurred between 9.30pm and 1am, and the dark-coloured Toyota had crashed close to the time it was found by a passer-by just after 2.30am.
It is not yet clear if the second stolen vehicle, a silver Honda, was directly involved in the crash or if the occupants had witnessed the Toyota leave the road.
Baynes said aggravated burglaries posed a serious risk to the community, but two families would now be grieving the loss of two young lives, regardless of the circumstances. “There had been some rain, and there’s a possibility the vehicles were travelling at high speed, so inexperienced drivers in a stolen car in poor conditions – it’s a real recipe for disaster,” he said.
“The people in this car may have been involved in criminal offending, and that is disappointing and really concerning for us but ultimately, there is now no ability for them to try and correct whatever errors they have made [and rehabilitate].”
Rowville resident Brian Dalton, who lives near the site of the crash, said the four-lane road was mostly straight and well-lit, with a speed limit of 80km/h. Hoons could often be heard along the stretch of road late in the evenings, he said.
Rowville resident Brian Dalton. Credit: Ashleigh McMillan
The crumpled Toyota came to rest on the median strip in one of the few sweeping bends along the road.
“We do call it the Kelletts Road raceway at night. We hear vehicles going more than 100km/h, cars and motorbikes. You hear them, and you think and hope you don’t hear a bang,” Dalton said. “If they had a speed camera along here, they would be taking licences for speeding every single night.
“It’s a very community-orientated area, and you’re always quite surprised when something happens here. It’s shocking.”
Another resident, Kaitlyn Roleff-Woolhouse, spoke through tears as she came to terms with the way repeated crime incidents in Rowville had eroded her feeling of safety.
On Monday, four youths wearing masks and carrying weapons broke into a Rowville milk bar, stealing $200.
“When I grew up, I used to walk these streets at eight or nine o’clock at night and feel safe; I was only 14 years old. Now I’m scared to walk my dogs,” Roleff-Woolhouse said.
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