Horror in Melbourne as a car is seen ‘tearing down’ Bourke Street Mall – nearly four years to the day since it was rocked by a deadly rampage which shocked Australia
- Pedestrians flee after driver tears through Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne
- The green Toyota Corolla was last spotted about 4.55pm on Thursday
Pedestrians were forced to dive out of harms way after a driver tore through Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall while trying to escape police.
The green Toyota Corolla was last spotted about 4.55pm on Thursday after mounting a kerb on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Street.
The driver remains on the run, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, particularly if they’ve seen the car since the incident.
‘The vehicle was followed by the Victoria Police Air Wing and last sighted in the St Kilda area,’ a Victoria Police spokesman said.
Pedestrians were forced to dive out of harms way after a driver tore through Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall while trying to escape police. Pictured: : People walk along a busy Bourke Street Mall during the Covid pandemic
‘Investigations into the incident remain ongoing and the vehicle remains outstanding.’
Initial investigations suggest nobody has been injured, but witnesses say pedestrians were forced to dive out of the path of the car as it came ‘tearing down’ the street.
A musician who was performing in the street claimed he watched as a man clambered out of the car after it collided with a bollard.
‘I saw screeching tyres and then slam… It was nuts.’
Initial investigations suggest nobody has been injured in the incident, but witnesses say pedestrians were forced to dive out of the path of the car as it came ‘tearing down’ the street. Pictured: People are seen at Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne wearing face masks
Another witness said ‘folks were running in every direction… Into the shops,’ as the car sped through the streets.
A police helicopter has been spotted hovering above the area.
The incident was reminiscent of the devastating Bourke Street rampage of 2017, when James Gargasoulas ran down and killed six people in the busy CBD – including a baby boy and a young girl.
Gargasoulas injured dozens of others, knocking them to the ground and into walls while driving in a drug-induced psychosis.
He was sentenced to life in jail at Victoria’s Supreme Court on February 22, 2019 with a non-parole period 46 years making him eligible for parole in 2063.
The non-parole period of 46 years is understood to be the longest handed down in Australia.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
More to follow.
The incident was reminiscent of the devastating Bourke Street rampage of 2017, when James Gargasoulas ran down and killed six people in the busy CBD – including a baby boy and a young girl