A teenage motorcyclist has died after being struck by a car was allegedly stolen an hour earlier.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Bell Street and Victoria Street in Preston in Melbourne’s north about 12.40am on Sunday following reports a BMW had struck a motorcycle.
Police arrived at the scene and performed CPR on a critically injured 19-year-old Davide Pollina, who died at the scene, despite desperate attempts to save his life.
The teen moved to Australia with his parents and older sister from Sicily in search of a better life about a decade ago.
His father, Nicola Pollina, in 2021 celebrated his son’s achievement of buying his first car, writing on social media: ‘You’re our pride’.
Davide was remembered as a ‘handsome and respectful boy’ to locals from his home town in Italy and as avid motorcycle and car enthusiast to his Aussie friends.
It’s believed two occupants in the BMW allegedly fled from the scene.
A 16-year-old boy, was arrested shortly afterwards and interviewed by detectives before being released, pending further enquiries.
Davida Pollina (pictured), 19, died at the scene of a horror crash in Melbourne’s north
Davide was remembered as a ‘handsome and respectful boy’ in his hometown in Italy
The other occupant remains on the run.
Police allege the luxury car and a Mazda were stolen from a home on Coonans Road, in Pascoe Vale South, at about 11.40pm on Saturday night, an hour before the collision.
A family friend of Davide remembered the teen as ‘a really nice young man’ whose death was ‘devastating’ for his family.
‘It’s devastating for Nicola and Eleanora as they came here for a better life and now they’ve lost their son all because a 16-year-old (allegedly) wants to steal a car and have some fun, it’s bad,’ they told the Herald Sun.
A GoFundMe organised on behalf of Davide’s family said he was ‘travelling home on his motorbike … when he was suddenly struck by an (allegedly) stolen vehicle’.
‘Davide was only 19, with a full life ahead of him,’ the fundraiser reads.
Neighbours of the home where the cars were allegedly stolen said a party had been held at the home earlier that night.
They revealed that by Sunday morning, the garage door had been smashed open and crawling with police gathering evidence.
Detectives from the Major Collision Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact police.
Davide was known as an avid car and motorcycle enthusiast, and a ‘handsome and respectful boy’ to locals from their home town in Italy before his family moved to Australia a decade ago
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan indicated that the state government will address rampant youth crime this week.
‘While there are investigations underway I’m not able to comment on the cause of this accident but I do want to express my deepest, deepest sympathy to the family who have lost a loved one,’ she told reporters on Sunday.
Ms Allan indicated the state government would introduce a bill to parliament to address youth crime, with Davide being the third allegedly killed by criminal youths this year.
‘While we are working on putting that Bill through the parliament, I understand very clearly that we need to address both the community concerns but also the reality of this repeat pattern of behaviour and look at what more we must do to keep the community safe,’ she said.
‘There is a pattern of behaviour here that is causing harm and it’s also causing me, and so many in the community, concern.’
Ms Allan however wouldn’t reveal details regarding the upcoming bill or if it will include amendments to the Youth Justice Bill currently before parliament.
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