An alleged car thief is on the run after fleeing the scene of a crash that killed a young motorcycle rider in the early hours of Sunday morning in Melbourne.
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision, which occurred between a BMW and a motorcyclist at the intersection of Bell and Victoria Street in Preston at around 12:40am on August 11.
Investigators have been told the BMW and a Mazda were stolen from an address in Pascoe Vale South shortly before the collision, at around 11:40pm on August 10.
Police attended the area and received information that the BMW was headed towards Preston, where officers then arrived at the scene of the crash and performed CPR on the male rider.
The rider, 19-year-old Davide Pollina, tragically died at the scene as police received reports two occupants from the BMW ran from the collision.
A 16-year-old boy, whom police allege was a passenger in the BMW involved, was interviewed by Fawkner Divisional Response Unit detectives on Sunday, following his arrest on the night of the crash.
The boy has since been released pending further enquiries, while police continue to search for the two BMW occupants who fled the scene.
Investigators wish to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam or CCTV footage. Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the Crimestoppers website.
The crash occurred just a day after Victoria Police issued an urgent road safety warning following the state’s road toll reaching 173 for 2024. That figure has now climbed to 176, surpassing the number of lives – 175 – that had been lost by this point last year.
Six people had lost their lives in the 10 days before the weekend, with police citing excessive speed and driver impairment as the leading causes of both fatal and serious injury collisions.
Concerns have been raised over vulnerable road users in particular, as 42 motorcyclists had been killed this year to August 10. That number is up from 23 at the same time last year.
29 pedestrians have also died this year compared to 22 this time last year, including a 66-year-old Reservoir man who died on Friday following a collision in Preston last Monday.
While some have been victims of crime, like Mr Pollina, others have passed away on Victorian roads due to speeding and failing to give way.
Police list visibility, slippery road conditions and incorrect safety wear among other contributing factors to the loss of life on Victorian roads.
“We are seeing a distressing number of people dying on our roads and in most cases, it could have been entirely preventable,” Road Policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said.
“2023 was a catastrophic year on our roads with 296 of people dying on our roads.
“We do not want to see this level of trauma again but sadly if we keep going at this rate it will be similar or worse.”
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