MELBOURNE, Australia — A 46-year-old Melton man was killed following a series of crashes involving stolen vehicles in East Melbourne on Saturday night, police said.
According to investigators, the incident began at approximately 9 p.m. when the man was driving a stolen white Subaru on the wrong side of the road near Punt Road. Police allege the Subaru collided with two vehicles during the incident.
Following the initial collision, authorities said the man exited the Subaru and entered one of the vehicles involved in the crash, a Ford Mustang. The Mustang’s driver was reportedly outside the vehicle at the time and was not injured.
Police said the man then drove the Mustang away from the scene and continued traveling erratically before entering Barassi Way in East Melbourne.
Investigators allege the Mustang subsequently crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with two additional vehicles — a Range Rover and a Toyota Camry. The impact of the crash resulted in the driver of the Mustang being ejected from the vehicle.
Emergency services responded quickly to the scene; however, the man was pronounced dead at the location. The fatal crash occurred near the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Ambulance Victoria confirmed that a woman in her 20s who was driving the Range Rover sustained upper and lower body injuries in the collision. She was transported to a hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.
The driver of the Toyota Camry was not injured.
Police investigations revealed that the Subaru involved in the earlier collisions had been reported stolen from Glen Iris on Aug. 20. Authorities also stated that the vehicle was displaying false registration plates at the time of the incident.
Emergency crews, including police, firefighters, and paramedics, remained at the scene for several hours as investigators worked to document evidence and determine the sequence of events leading to the fatal crash.
Barassi Way was closed to traffic overnight while major collision investigators examined the scene and cleared damaged vehicles from the roadway.
The dramatic chain of events attracted significant attention from nearby motorists and pedestrians, with authorities acknowledging the impact the incident may have had on witnesses and those who assisted in the aftermath.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll extended his thoughts to everyone affected by the incident, including those directly involved in the collisions, witnesses who observed the events unfold, and members of the public who rendered assistance at the scene.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crashes and are appealing for additional information. Investigators are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who witnessed the collisions or captured footage of the incident on dashboard cameras.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers as authorities work to establish a complete picture of the events that led to the fatal series of crashes.
The investigation remains ongoing.
