By Tyler Wright
Kalorama’s Kapi Art Space has been dealt another blow after a luxury car ploughed into the community gallery resulting in thousands of dollars worth of art being damaged.
It’s alleged an Audi lost control while driving along Ridge Road shortly after 3am on Saturday 13 August, running through the stone barrier and into the front of the business.
This comes only two months after another vehicle crashed into the building’s stone barrier.
Six teenagers are in custody, including one girl who was quickly arrested nearby on police arrival.
Officers were patrolling the area looking for the outstanding offenders as report came through of an attempted car theft on nearby Price Road.
After noticing a ride share vehicle passing by, police located four teenagers, three males and one female, who were taken into custody.
It was the Dog Squad that rounded up the last male youth.
Police said five teens were expected to be interviewed on the morning of Saturday 13 August, while the sixth offender was taken to hospital with a leg injury after being bitten by the police dog.
Kalorama CFA Fire Brigade, Olinda CFA Fire Brigade and Lilydale SES attended the scene to help clear debris from the roads and remove artwork from inside the building.
A Yarra Ranges Council building engineer was called and Brigade members helped temporarily prop up the roof.
Kalorama CFA Fire Brigade captain Bill Robinson said the passengers were lucky to escape the vehicle without injuries.
“They were going that fast that [the car] actually exploded the rock cage [at the front of the gallery], and sprayed rocks all the way over to the other side of the road,” Mr Robinson said.
“We’re talking about rocks that are probably about 150 millimetres in diameter, so that’s about 20 odd rocks pushed onto the other side.”
He said Kapi Art Space had just been refurbished after another vehicle hit the same stone barrier two months ago; a result of speeding drivers being caught off guard by the road’s dog-leg bend.
“The rock wall’s got heaps of damage from over the years where cars have hit [it]…they’ve misjudged the corner.”
It is believed thousands of dollars worth of art from local artists was damaged as a result of the car, which was pushed a number of metres into the gallery.
It is also believed extensive repairs will be needed before the gallery re-opens.
“With the storms, trying to get builders and people to work on houses up here as it is [is difficult], and insurance companies are not quick, so [the gallery] is going to be out of business for quite a while,” Mr Robinson said.
“We’ve only got three shops in Kalorama, so we’ve just lost a third of our shops.”
Any witnesses, anyone with CCTV/dashcam footage or any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Kapi Art Space Managing Director Heather Bradbury has been contacted for comment.
