Police are hunting two men after a car they were in erratically sped down Bourke Street Mall late on Thursday afternoon to avoid being pulled over, crashing into a bollard and forcing pedestrians to flee to safety.
The chase unfolded just before 5pm when police tried to pull over a green Mitsubishi Lancer in Swanston Street in relation to a traffic-related incident.
Pedestrians race across Bourke Street to avoid an erratic driver on Thursday.
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.
Witnesses said the driver evaded police, driving to Bourke Street before hitting a metal bollard in the mall and making a U-turn.
During the manoeuvre a man who appeared to be in his 20s jumped from the passenger side of the vehicle and ran away before the car accelerated through the mall.
The driver headed down Swanston Street and St Kilda Road in the car. He has not yet been arrested.
Officers discovered the abandoned car in Ashworth Street, Albert Park, about 6.40pm stripped of its number plates.
Police said the abandoned car was found in Albert Park on Thursday night, minus the number plates.Credit:Nine News
A spokeswoman for Victoria Police confirmed the two men were still at large on Friday morning, and the investigation was ongoing.
At this stage, police do not believe the driver had been intending to harm pedestrians. Instead, they say, he was taking evasive action to avoid police intercept.
“At the time of the vehicle crashing into the bollard, police drew their firearms,” police said in a statement on Thursday.
The incident comes just 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.
A security guard who did not want to be named said when he watched the erratic driving, he momentarily “thought it was a terrorist attack.”
“It was scary, especially when it did the U-turn,” he said.
A musician performing outside the GPO said he heard screeching tyres as the car tore up Bourke Street.
“I saw screeching tyres and then ‘slam’,” said the man, who only wanted to be referred to as Noah.
He said a man who appeared to be in his 20s jumped out of the car after it hit the bollard and ran down Elizabeth Street.
“It was nuts.”
Big Issue seller 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.”
He said he thought the driver 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.“
Anyone with information that could assist police with their inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
with David Estcourt, Carolyn Webb
Ashleigh McMillan is a breaking news reporter at The Age. Got a story? Email me at a.mcmillan@theage.com.au
Senior Reporter at The Age
Michael is a state political reporter for The Age.
David Estcourt is a court and general news reporter at The Age.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMigwFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL3BvbGljZS1odW50LXR3by1tZW4tZm9sbG93aW5nLWNhci1jaGFzZS10aHJvdWdoLWJvdXJrZS1zdHJlZXQtbWFsbC0yMDIxMDEyOS1wNTZ4b2YuaHRtbNIBgwFodHRwczovL2FtcC50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL3BvbGljZS1odW50LXR3by1tZW4tZm9sbG93aW5nLWNhci1jaGFzZS10aHJvdWdoLWJvdXJrZS1zdHJlZXQtbWFsbC0yMDIxMDEyOS1wNTZ4b2YuaHRtbA?oc=5
2021-01-28 21:25:00Z
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