Teenager charged over fatal Hoppers Crossing crash that killed boy
A teenager has been charged over a fatal car crash in Melbourne’s southwest that killed a 15-year-old and injured several others.
The 17-year-old boy was arrested by Victoria Police in the Wyndham area on Saturday and detectives charged him with culpable driving causing death, among other driving offences.
Victoria Police described the “shocking” incident in the early hours of Friday morning as an attempted carjacking and high-speed chase.
An allegedly stolen Skoda sedan chased a Toyota while speeding on suburban Derrimut Rd, collided with the rear of the Toyota and then lost control, crashing into a Ford sedan and Ford Ranger.
There were seven teenagers inside the Skoda and it was claimed the crashed vehicle had been stolen from Yellow Box Road in Maidstone days earlier.
The allegedly stolen Skoda rolled several times and then came to rest in the front garden of a nearby house. The 15-year-old young passenger who was thrown from the vehicle died at the scene.
Police said that four of the Skoda passengers were believed to have fled after the accident, and that an investigation into their identities was ongoing.
While there was some alcohol in the vehicle, a sharp-edged weapon, thought to be a sword, was also seized at the scene of the accident.
A 16-year-old girl injured in the accident remained in the hospital under police supervision. Another 16-year-old girl was detained at the scene, as was a 14-year-old boy who was later arrested after arriving at a nearby hospital with his family.
Both teenagers were interviewed by Victoria Police investigators and released pending further investigation.
Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy of the Major Collision Investigation Unit said: “This is a shocking situation that could have resulted in multiple fatalities.
“This isn’t a PlayStation game where you can hit reset and start over. These are real lives, real situations that can’t be undone.”
“We could have resulted in the killing of large numbers of young people and children, including members of the public who are going about their daily lives and are now significantly affected by the trauma.”
Victoria Police is investigating the circumstances leading to the fatal crash.
