A third teenager has been charged and a man has died in a horrific crash involving a suspected stolen vehicle.
On Tuesday evening, emergency services were called to the intersection of Warrigal and Highbury Roads after a suspected stolen Jeep Cherokee struck the side of a 28-year-old man’s Toyota station wagon.
The man from Ashburton died at the scene while four young men fled on foot.
Two 15-year-old teenagers were arrested at the scene and charged with car theft.
The couple were released on bail to appear in juvenile court at a later date.
On Wednesday evening, police in Malvern East arrested a 17-year-old boy who has since been charged with several offences, including careless driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, failure to stop and render assistance, motor vehicle theft and driving without a licence.
The boy remains in custody and will appear in juvenile court on Thursday.
Police confirmed that three other youths fled through Burwood Reserve after the collision and are believed to have left several personal items in the park, including gloves.
The Jeep was allegedly stolen in an aggravated burglary in Cranbourne South on Friday before being used in robberies in Ormond and Ripponlea on Sunday.
Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk described the teenager’s behaviour as “cowardly”.
“The impact was massive, it was a high speed impact, they knew someone in the car would have been injured,” he said, according to the Herald Sun.
“Leaving an injured or killed person in another vehicle and then running away is cowardly, it’s absolutely cowardly, it’s just outrageous, that’s what it is.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident and has CCTV or dashcam footage or other information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.