Police are investigating multiple car crashes which claimed the lives of two people in Melbourne overnight, including a 16-year-old boy.
The crashes occurred within a short time of one another in the early hours of Saturday morning in the suburbs of Beaconsfield, in Melbourne’s south east, and Chirnside Park, in the north east.
Victoria Police said a car, which was being driven by a 16-year-old boy, crashed into three parked cars on Edward Rd, Chirnside Park, at about 2.05am before it burst into flames.
Police and witnesses pulled three boys from the car, however the rear passenger, a 16-year-old Montrose boy, died at the scene despite the best efforts or paramedics.
The driver and the front seat passenger, a 16-year-old Mooroolbark boy, were both taken to hospital with serious injuries.
A neighbour told Nine News the teen driver was passed out when people tried to help free him from the burning car.
“The gentleman that was driving that was originally passed out woke up halfway through, when the car was on fire and was crying asking for his mum and saying this hurts,” the man told Nine News on Saturday.
Major Collision Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Daryll Out told reporters on Saturday investigations are ongoing to determine how the crash occurred.
“We’ll be investigating to any extent if there was alcohol, if high speed was a factor and the degree of inexperience,” he said.
“I think they had a bit of get together and decided to go for a drive.
“Obviously just a bad decision and a catastrophe that didn’t need to happen.”
Victoria Police said at about 12.15am a car crashed into a tree on the Old Princes Hwy, a result of which a female passenger died at the scene.
The male driver, who was arrested at the scene and is reportedly assisting police, while a second male was flown to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
In the 12 months to March 30, 262 people lost their lives on Victorian roads – a rolling increase of 10 per cent.
The sharp rise led to a police plea for road users to exercise greater caution in February.
Anyone with dashcam footage or who witnessed the incidents, or has any other information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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