Man jumps from moving car during alleged machete attack in Melbourne’s southeast
A young man who was allegedly attacked with machetes was injured after jumping from a moving car in a terrifying late-night attack in Melbourne’s south-east.
Police said witnesses reported a man screaming for help from a gray Toyota Yaris in McGregor Street, Pakenham, just after 10pm on Monday evening.
The vehicle was followed through Pakenham to Berwick, where it slowed down on Homestead Road, allowing the man to jump out of the car and attempt to escape.
The Yaris then stopped and three people got out of the vehicle and attacked the man, then fled the scene with the vehicle.
Witnesses took the injured man to a nearby car park to wait for emergency services to arrive. Ambulance Victoria said advanced life support paramedics treated a 23-year-old man for upper body injuries before taking him to hospital in a stable condition.
Police confirmed that a machete was used during the attack.
One of the witnesses, who later shared his account online, said he and his wife were driving through Pakenham after looking at Christmas lights when they noticed a man leaning out of the car window and shouting for help.
Believing the situation to be serious, they decided to follow the vehicle as it sped through the area and was actively trying to evade them.
During the pursuit, the witness said the man could be seen being attacked inside the car while he was on the phone with authorities providing live updates.
He said that when the car slowed down in Berwick and the man jumped out of the car, the attack escalated, and three men allegedly got out of the car and attacked him with machetes, then ran away when they realized they were being followed.
The pair then picked up the injured man and took him to a nearby McDonald’s in Berwick, where a major emergency response took place.
The witness said the man was bleeding but conscious and expressed concern that he might not have survived had he not been treated later.
Detective Sergeant Glen McGowan praised the witnesses for tracking the vehicle and providing constant updates to triple-0.
He said police had spoken to the victim since the incident but the man had refused to make a formal statement.
Police understand the people involved were known to each other and the victim was also known to police.
Det Sgt McGowan said the victim willingly got into the car with four other people before a dispute broke out and as a result he was assaulted inside the vehicle.
The reason for the dispute is not yet known.
Police allege the Toyota Yaris was stolen from the Melbourne CBD on December 15 and was involved in a petrol theft in the days before the incident.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.
