A man killed when his vehicle was T-boned by an allegedly stolen vehicle in Melbourne’s east has been identified as William Taylor.
Taylor, 28, from Ashburton, was making a right-hand turn off Warrigal Rd onto Highbury Rd in Burwood when his hatchback was T-boned by a Jeep Grand Cherokee at 7pm on Tuesday.
Taylor’s hatchback landed in a frontyard where residents rushed to help, but there was little they could do and he died at the scene.
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His family said they are “heartbroken” over the “devastating loss”.
“Will was a much-loved son, brother, partner and friend,” the family said
“He was a quiet, intelligent and thoughtful young man who loved his sport.”
The Jeep continued up the road for a short distance before it hit a tree and four males who were inside ran off while two girls were arrested as they allegedly tried to flee.
The girls, both aged 15 and both on bail, were taken to hospital under police guard and later charged with theft of a motor vehicle.
Both were bailed to appear before a children’s court at a later date.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested in Malvern East at 8.30pm on Wednesday and charged with culpable driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, failure to stop and render assistance, theft of motor vehicle and unlicensed driving.
He faced a children’s court on Friday and was released on bail, after the magistrate said the case against him was weak. He will return to a children’s court in August.
Police praised a male bystander who held one of the 15-year-old girls until police arrived, and said the second girl had stayed with her. Three males remain on the run.
Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk said the males were believed to have fled through a nearby park where officers have located gloves.
He said the Jeep was allegedly stolen in an aggravated burglary in Cranbourne South on Friday, June 28, and was then used in an armed robbery in Ormond and another in Ripponlea on June 30.
On Monday, police tried to intercept the vehicle but it took off and could not be located again.
“When fatal collisions occur, they are totally frustrating for us — this is another totally preventable collision,” Von Tunk said.
“The impact was tremendous. It was a high-speed impact.”
Bail laws defended
Victoria’s acting Premier Ben Carroll on Friday defended the state’s bail laws. denying the courts were “too soft” on young alleged offenders.
“Let’s be clear, no person who is an unacceptable risk should be getting bail,” he said.
Shadow attorney-general Michael O’Brien said magistrates and judges were simply implementing the bail laws as written by the Labor government.
“This government has been in power for 21 years and appointed all of these judges,” he said.
– With AAP