A MAN speeding along Frankston-Dandenong Rd at 30kph over the limit crashed into the rear of a car driven by an elderly man, sending both vehicles careering into power poles, Frankston police say.
Luckily, no one was killed in the collision at 9.40am, Friday, in which the pole hit by the young driver, in a Commodore, was knocked out of the ground.
Immediately after the collision, the 20-year-old – said by police to be doing 110kph in an 80kph zone – allegedly fled the scene assisted by two friends who arrived minutes afterwards. His car was written off and left upside down on the centre median strip astride the crumpled pole.
Detective Senior Constable Ryan Collins said the Frankston man was driving south near Klauer St when he clipped the rear of the other car as it changed lanes. This caused both to run into different poles – one much harder than the other. Traffic was brought to a standstill.
It’s believed the police helicopter was called in to search for the missing driver, before police at the scene spoke to, and then arrested, two men when they returned to the damaged car. They were charged with making false reports to police.
Frankston-Dandenong Rd was blocked off while police investigated, and traffic diverted along the service road. The wrecked car’s airbag was deployed.
When police arrested the young man at his house he was charged with dangerous driving, speeding, and leaving the scene of an accident. Other charges may be pending, police said.
The elderly driver and his wife, also of Frankston, were believed not seriously injured in the accident, but were taken away by ambulance.
The young driver was remanded to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. The other two have been released on bail to appear at a date to be fixed.
