Two teenagers have been charged over a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the lives of a newly-married couple in Melbourne.
Matt Goland, 38, died at the scene and Bita Zaeim, 32, was rushed to hospital but died a short time later. The pair were tragically just minutes away from their home.
Police allege the teenagers travelled at ‘horrendous speeds’ and ran a red light before crashing into a Holden Commodore in Wantirna South shortly after midnight.
Two teenagers have been charged over a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the lives of a newly-married couple in Melbourne
Matt Goland, 38, died at the scene and Bita Zaeim, 32, was rushed to hospital but died a short time later
The teenagers (pictured left) allegedly fled the scene following the fatal crash as CCTV footage showed witnesses running to the scene to offer assistance
Police alleged a grey Lexus four-wheel-drive travelling south along Stud Road in Wantirna South collided with an eastbound black Holden Commodore (pictured)
A 19-year-old Boronia man was charged with two counts of culpable driving and one count of theft of motor vehicle.
A 15-year-old Belgrave girl was charged with two counts of culpable driving (accessory after the fact) and one count of theft of motor vehicle.
The Boronia man faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday, while the Belgrave girl will face a Children’s Court at a later date.
Mr Goland’s parents visited the site of the hit and run which claimed their son and daughter in law’s lives
Locals have also visited the scene of the hit and run to pay their respects to the victims
The teenagers, who allegedly fled the crash site, received medical treatment under police guard after their arrest at a Belgrave home about 1.15pm on Saturday.
Acting Superintendent Stuart McGregor told reporters the ‘abhorrent’ events seemed to be ‘a bit of a game’ for the teenagers.
‘There’s nothing fun about this, this is not a game, this is real life, this is where people have died and this is where people will be going to jail,’ he told reporters.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives pictured investigating circumstances surrounding the crash
Matt Goland and Bita Zaeim (pictured) lived in The Basin and had only been married for 12 months
‘Everyone in the community just cannot understand how someone can think it’s right to travel at speed – horrendous speeds – through a red light and then when you know you’ve done so much damage to another car, to another person, to two people, to think of themselves and just flee.’
One of the dead couple’s parents visited the Wantirna South crash site on Saturday morning.
‘I’ve seen some pretty terrible incidents, this is probably up there. I’ve been able to explain how the collision occurred but I can’t tell her why. This behaviour is just abhorrent,’ Sup McGregor said.
‘Dealing with them and talking to them and seeing that state of shock, you never want to see that.’
The occupants of the Lexus (pictured) ran westbound on Stud Road after the crash
The male passenger in the Holden died at the scene and his wife passed away in hospital
The road toll now stands at 64 for 2018, compared to 78 for the same time last year.
Acting Superintendent Stuart McGregor said the memory of informing the next of kin about the fatalities would haunt him for the rest of his life.
‘I’ve had to stand at the intersection with the parents of one of the deceased, I’ve been able to explain how it has occurred but not why,’ he said.
Matt Goland, 38, and Bita Zaeim, 32, were married only a year ago
‘This behaviour is abhorrent. No one in the community can understand why.
‘The image of mum and dad of the male passenger will probably stay with me for the rest of my life.’
Mr McGregor said the teens appeared to be treating taking other people’s lives into their own hands as though it was a ‘game’.
‘This is not a game, this is real life. The reality is that two people are dead and two more are going to jail,’ he said.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating circumstances surrounding the crash.
The aftermath of a fatal hit and run collision overnight which killed a newlywed couple
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