Investigation into Truganina fatal collision continues
Police have released CCTV of several vehicles and people they are looking to identify as part of the investigation into a collision in Truganina last month where four people were killed and two were seriously injured.
The victims’ vehicle was travelling along Dohertys Road when it collided with a truck near Forsyth Road about 7.30pm on Thursday, 30 September.
Four teenage boys, including the 16-year-old driver and his passengers aged 15, 16 and 17, were killed in the collision.
Two other male passengers aged 15 and 17 sustained life-threatening injuries.
The 28-year-old male driver, who was the sole occupant of the truck, was taken to hospital with serious lower body injuries.
Homicide Squad detectives are now working with the Major Collision Investigation Unit to investigate the circumstances of the collision.
This includes any incidents which may have contributed to why the victim’s vehicle was being driven in the speed and manner that it was at the time of the collision.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, Homicide Squad said, “This collision had led to at least seven lives being irrevocably changed – four young lives have been taken far too soon, two others have been dramatically altered, and we have an innocent truck driver who will no doubt take a long time to recover from his experience. I know Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir described the incident as ‘catastrophic’ and I still believe that is an incredibly accurate word to use.”
There is nothing at this time to indicate any culpability on behalf of the truck driver.
Investigators have identified an incident which occurred about 7.22pm that night outside the Tarneit Shopping Centre on Derrimut Road, approximately 5km from the collision scene.
Detective Inspector Thomas said, “We have a young, unlicensed driver travelling at speed in an overloaded vehicle full of young men not wearing seatbelts. This is now compounded by the circumstances leading up to the collision and Homicide and Major Collision investigators are working to establish what connection this altercation could have to the way the victim’s vehicle was being driven. It may be that it has no connection but we really need to speak to the occupants of those three vehicles to find out more.”
The occupants of the victim’s vehicle are involved in some type of altercation with the occupants of three other vehicles, which police have identified as being a red Volkswagen Golf GTI, a blue Volkswagen Golf R and a red Holden VF Commodore.
Each of these three vehicles contained a number of unknown male occupants.
At this time police are yet to determine the reason for the altercation and any relevance it may have to the collision a few minutes later.
Police are today releasing CCTV and still images showing this altercation.
Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who can identify the three vehicles and their occupants, as well as anyone who can provide further information about this altercation and the reason for it.
They are also appealing for the occupants of those vehicles to come forward and speak to police.
“I’m appealing for anyone who has information about those vehicles to come forward, or for the occupants to make contact with police themselves. We’re hopeful that the investigation can provide some answers to each of the victims families about why this tragic incident occurred. If you have any information at all, or if you have any CCTV or dash-cam footage of the collision or the events preceding it, then we urge you to come forward.” Detective Inspector Thomas said.
A significant canvas of the area for CCTV has already been conducted, however police would like to speak to anyone who has CCTV or dash-cam footage and is yet to come forward.
In particular, police are asking those living in or travelling through the Truganina and Tarneit areas around Poplar Boulevard, Derrimut Road and Dohertys Road to check their footage for the night between 5pm and 8pm.
Anyone witnesses or anyone with footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
