Pedestrians run for cover as car races through central Melbourne - The Age

Pedestrians have been forced to flee as a car drove at high speeds through Bourke Street Mall during a police pursuit.

Witnesses have described seeing a green sedan speed down the pedestrian section of Bourke Street Mall just before 5pm, with police following close behind.

They said the driver hit a metal bollard in the Mall, did a U-turn, and then headed down Swanston Street and St Kilda Road. During the manoeuvre a man jumped from the passenger side of the vehicle and fled on foot, before the car accelerated through the mall.

There have been no reports of injuries, although there were numerous reports of people jumping out of the car’s path and some near-misses. Police told The Age the driver had not been apprehended.

The incident comes a week after the fourth anniversary of the deaths of six people who were hit and killed by James Gargasoulas as he sped through the CBD on January 20, 2017, injuring dozens more.

Victoria Police said the vehicle refused to stop for officers and drove erratically in the CBD.

A bollard in Bourke Street Mall was dented by the driver.Credit:Michael Fowler

“Police attempted to pull over a green Toyota Corolla about 4.55pm at Bourke Street near Swanston Street however the vehicle mounted a kerb and sped off,” a spokesperson said.

“The vehicle was followed by the Victoria Police Air Wing and last sighted in the St Kilda area.

“Investigations into the incident remain ongoing and the vehicle remains outstanding.

“There have been no reports of any injuries connected to the incident.

“Anyone who sees the vehicle is urged to contact triple zero immediately.”

A musician performing outside the GPO shopping mall said he heard screeching tyres as the car tore up Bourke Street before hitting the bollard.

“I saw screeching tyres and then ‘slam’,” said the musician, who only wanted to be referred to as Noah. He said that a man in his 20s jumped out of the car after it collided with the bollard and ran down Elizabeth Street.

“It was nuts.”

A separate witness said once the car hit the bollard, a man jumped out of the passenger seat and ran north up Elizabeth Street. He said the car then started driving quickly towards Swanston Street again.

Another witness, Shane Lowe, was on Bourke Street crossing Swanston Street when he saw the car drive past in an erratic manner.

“Part of the left front had been damaged - like a recent crash,” Mr Lowe said.

“It was at the lights with a cop car behind it. It was facing north on Swanston at the Bourke junction then suddenly turned left and sped down Bourke Street, the police pursued.

“People sort of ran closer to [sic] and [moved] inside the shops.”

Police inspect broken glass and a damaged bollard in Bourke Street Mall, where a driver has caused chaos, causing pedestrians to jump out of the way, according to witnesses. Credit:Michael Fowler

Big Issue seller Con Anastasio said he saw the vehicle speeding down Bourke Street, with four police cars behind it.

“Not many people were crossing the road, which was lucky,” he said.

A second Big Issue seller, named Louis, said he was standing outside Myer and saw a green car racing down the mall.

“It spun around trying to escape the pursuing police.

“There was lights, noise, everything.

“A guy jumped out of the car on the passenger side and ran up Bourke St (towards Elizabeth Street),” after the car had crashed into a bollard.

The car sped off. He said he was glad it wasn’t like previous incidents and no one appeared to be heard.

He said he thought it was someone “on the loose and trying to get away from the police”.

“I don’t think it was some psycho out to kill everybody in the street.”

Louis said there were several police cars in pursuit but they didn’t get out of the car and chase the man who escaped.

“It was like flash, he was off.

“There was a lot of energy, you could feel it.”

Dina Jacob, 29, of Carlton said she saw the car enter Bourke Street Mall about 5pm outside Myer.

Ms Jacob said the driver did a sharp U-turn and collided with a bollard, smashing its front headlight.

She said the vehicle was heading very fast down the mall and police were in pursuit but they fell behind after the U-turn. The vehicle turned left and headed towards Melbourne Central. She said a lot of police arrived at the scene and that people were running away from the vehicle.

“It was scary, frightening, she said. “Obviously I was scared. Now I’m OK.”

She said the incident reminded her of the James Gargasoulas incident.

A coronial inquest last month into Gargasoulas’ rampage delivered a withering assessment of Victoria Police’s handling of the incident.

During that incident many pedestrians dived out of Gargasoulas’ path as he raced down Bourke and Swanston streets.

Bollards were installed in Bourke Street Mall as a protective measure against vehicles after the deaths.

Just before 6pm police were telling pedestrians to walk close to the edge of the mall while they interviewed people.

Police asked reporters not to speak to those they planned to interview until the witnesses had talked to an officer.

Police tape was placed around glass and debris surrounded the bollard, which was dented.

Anyone with information that could assist police with their enquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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2021-01-28 06:16:00Z
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