A man who allegedly ran a red light in a stolen car and collided with another car in a horror fatal crash in Melbourne’s innerwest has been charged with manslaughter.
A 67-year-old Taylors Hill man died at the scene of the crash in Footscray on Monday after his car was pushed 80m into a tree following impact.
Police allege a stolen white Nissan truck was spotted in Beveridge about 2.30am that day, with police attempting to intercept the car in Truganina near Peterpaul Way and Schembri Drive before it sped off.
Stop sticks were placed down several times but were unsuccessful, police allege.
It is alleged the truck was travelling west on Ballarat Rd when it ran a red light, colliding with a 2011 Toyota Corolla.
The Corolla had been turning right from Ballarat Rd into Moore St.
The collision happened on the corner of Ballarat Rd and Moore St. Picture: Google Maps.
Victoria Police Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said on Monday that the Corolla was pushed up to 80m upon impact into a tree.
“Unfortunately, the driver of a second vehicle was hit by the stolen truck and was killed it appears instantly,” he said.
“(At) the time of impact, the civilian vehicle was pushed 70 to 80m into a tree onto the south side of Ballarat Rd.”
Mr Weir alleged there was “excessive speed involved” before the collision, as well as periods of driving on the wrong side of the road and running red lights.
The Deer Park man was also allegedly involved in another collision with a separate vehicle prior to the fatal crash, though no one was injured.
“The exact speed at the time of collision will obviously be determined as part of our investigation. Our forensic crash reconstruction specialists are involved … but that’ll take a bit of time,” Mr Weir said.
Victoria Police Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir earlier called the death an ‘absolute tragedy’. NewsWire/ David Crosling
Police allege the Nissan truck was stolen from Kalkallo on January 3, before it was found in in Derrimut. Its owner was contacted on January 5, but the vehicle was allegedly again stolen before it could be returned.
The 40-year-old man was taken to hospital under police guard with minor injuries.
He has since been charged with manslaughter, culpable driving, conduct endangering life, trafficking methylamphetamine, going equipped to steal, possess proceeds of crime and various other traffic offences.
He is expected to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.