A shocking incident in Mildura has left two 12-year-old boys hospitalised with serious injuries after a utility vehicle allegedly pursued and struck them inside a popular pedestrian precinct on Thursday night.

Police have arrested and charged 56-year-old Andrew Brien, a resident of Gol Gol in New South Wales, following the terrifying ordeal which took place just after 11:00 PM in Langtree Mall.

Brien appeared in the Mildura Magistrates' Court on Friday afternoon, where he made no application for bail. He remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court next week to apply for bail.

Terror in a Pedestrian Zone

According to investigators, the two boys were riding motorised bicycles through the pedestrian-only zone when the driver of the utility vehicle allegedly entered the mall and pursued them. The vehicle ultimately struck both children, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Emergency services rushed to the scene to treat the two injured children, both of whom suffered significant upper body injuries. Due to the severity of his condition, one of the boys was flown directly to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne for urgent specialist care. The second boy was transported to a local hospital.

A Devastating Scene

The impact of the collision caused extensive damage to the local infrastructure. A large crime scene, spanning nearly half the length of Langtree Mall, was quickly established by investigators.

Debris, including a heavily mangled motorised bicycle with a child's cap still attached, lay scattered across the pavement. Portions of the mall's misting system near Eighth Street were completely uprooted and thrown onto the nearby roadway, while a street light fixture was also destroyed. Visible tyre burnouts and skid marks scarred the pedestrian pavement where the pursuit took place.

Brien faces multiple severe charges, including four counts of reckless conduct endangering life, and single counts of intentionally causing injury, driving in a dangerous manner, and dangerous driving causing serious injury.

Local authorities are pleading with the public for assistance. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has dashcam or CCTV footage of the area around Langtree Mall at approximately 11:00 PM on Thursday, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.