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In a dramatic turn of events yesterday, a vehicle was observed careening into oncoming traffic on Wattletree Road in Armadale around 11:30 a.m. The reckless journey ended abruptly as the ute collided with a brick fence, narrowly missing Wendy Aubrey, who was tending to her garden at the time.
“He just veered across the road, mounted the nature strip, and crashed through the front fence, bringing it down,” Aubrey recounted. “Fortunately, I had chosen to garden in another section, not 10 meters away.”
Authorities claim that the driver lost control of the vehicle shortly after allegedly ramming their car and another in a desperate bid to flee the scene. Prior to the incident, local residents had alerted police about a man seen sleeping in the Hilux with the engine running, just around the corner.
Police will allege the driver crashed moments after he rammed their car and another while trying to evade capture.
Nearby residents had reported him sleeping in the Hilux with its engine running around the corner.
When police arrived they tried to clamp the ute, but they were forced to smash a window and use capsicum spray when the man allegedly drove at them.
“There appeared to be a window smashed on one side to get him out but otherwise he took off pretty erratically up the footpath,” witness Jacquie Baillie said.
“It was terribly scary for everybody involved, and I’m just so glad that no one was injured.”
A 33-year-old man was charged with a string of offences including theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated burglary and possessing a controlled weapon.
He’s been remanded to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court later this month.
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