Wednesday 19 August 2026Victoria edition
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Dramatic High-Speed Chase Ends in Preston Crash, Two Arrested

A perilous midnight pursuit across Melbourne's northern suburbs culminated in a dramatic high-speed crash in Preston, leading to the arrest of two individuals. The stolen vehicle, reportedly reaching speeds of 120km/h, flipped onto its roof after colliding with a tree.

SR
By Staff Reporter
News reporter · Updated about 1 month ago

A high-speed police pursuit through Melbourne's north-eastern suburbs concluded dramatically last night with a stolen car flipping onto its roof in Preston, leading to the apprehension of both its male driver and female passenger.

The incident began around 11:40 PM on Thursday when local officers were called to investigate reports of suspicious activity on Altona Street in Heidelberg Heights. Upon arrival, police observed a Kia Rio sedan, later confirmed to be stolen, rapidly departing the scene.

Officers initiated a follow, with the stolen vehicle allegedly attempting to evade capture at dangerous speeds. The chase weaved through several northern suburbs, including Heidelberg West and into Preston. During this segment of the pursuit, a 30-year-old female passenger exited the vehicle and was swiftly arrested by police.

Undeterred, the driver of the Kia continued the evasion, traversing through Thornbury and Kingsbury before circling back towards Preston. Authorities report that the vehicle reached speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, posing a significant risk to public safety and other road users.

The perilous chase reached its climax on Gilbert Road, Preston, when the driver ultimately lost control of the speeding vehicle. The Kia Rio collided with a tree before dramatically flipping onto its roof, coming to a halt at the crash site.

Emergency services attended the scene, and the 46-year-old male driver was transported to hospital under police guard. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash. Investigations have revealed that the vehicle was allegedly stolen from an address in Thomastown.

Both the arrested man and woman are expected to be interviewed by police regarding their involvement in the incident, and charges are anticipated to be laid as the investigation continues.

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