By Parker McKenzie
A passenger has died in a vehicle that police said attempted to evade highway patrol officers before running through a red light and colliding with two other cars.
The driver is under police guard in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
On Saturday 27 August at 5.30pm, police allege the silver car sped away after a highway patrol unit attempted to stop it on Ferntree Gully Road, before travelling through red lights and hitting the two other vehicles.
A woman who was a passenger in the silver car died at the scene, while a primary school-aged child in one of the vehicles was transported to the Royal Children’s Hospital in stable condition.
A man in his 40s suffered upper body injuries and was transported to the Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition, where police said he remains under guard.
Police said the exact circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be determined and because the death occurred following contact with the police, Professional Standards Command will have oversight of the investigation following “standard procedure.”
Victoria Police is asking anyone with information, dashcam or CCTV footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
