Three teenagers have been charged after T-boning into a young family in an allegedly stolen car in Melbourne’s east.
Police said the teens stole a Mazda3 from a business in Narre Warren about 1.15am today before T-boning a Volkswagen with a family inside on the intersection of Gloucester Avenue and Princes Highway in Berwick about 10.50am.
The car then ploughed into a light pole.
Witnesses told 9News of the “chaotic” scene as smoke billowed, petrol spilled and pedestrians rushed to help.
“There’s people running everywhere, there’s smoke,” Trent Delmonaco said.
“We were more concerned that it was going to blow up, everyone’s yelling, ‘Get out of the office’, because there was petrol everywhere,” Karin Ketteringham said.
Witnesses said the teens emerged the wreck and allegedly fled the scene while a mother and her young children in the Volkswagen were left visibly shocked and shaken.
People nearby chased after the teens and one tradie was able to wrestle a girl to the ground to perform a citizen’s arrest.
The others allegedly fled down a laneway with staff from a nearby barber in pursuit.
Police arrived and arrested the teenagers.
A 15-year-old boy from Pakenham has been charged with theft of motor vehicle, burglary and theft and has been bailed to appear in a children’s court at a later date.
Two 14-year-old girls, from Chelsea Heights and Pakenham, have been charged with theft of motor vehicle and bailed to appear in a children’s court at a later date.
And a 14-year-old boy from Seaford was taken to hospital and has yet to be interviewed by police.
9News understands one of the teenagers had been on bail for other offences.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
