HIGH-speed car chases have got nothing on one Lavington teenager who tried to escape police attention — on the back of a motorised scooter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 18-year-old allegedly refused to stop when flagged to pull over in Kaitlers Road, Lavington, about 9.45pm on Saturday night.
Instead, he led police on a “chase” at speeds up to 60km/h through the suburb’s streets, before coming to a very abrupt stop by crashing his scooter.
Insp David Cottee said the youth travelled down Kaitlers Road and continued onto Prune Street before doing a lap of Lavington Square car park.
He then crossed onto Kaylock Road, down Moore Street and Union Road, where police stopped the pursuit as he was on the wrong side of the road.
“There was an obvious danger at that point to himself but also possibly to others,” Insp Cottee said.
“He was forcing drivers to take evasive action ... and the need for that often puts people in a more dangerous situation. He obviously had no thought for others.”
Police pursued him again on Poplar Drive before he crashed his scooter in Michelle Avenue.
The teen was treated at Albury hospital for minor scrapes but there were no injuries.
Insp Cottee said the youth was charged with traffic offences including driving while disqualified.
He remains in police custody.
Meanwhile, in Yarrawonga, a 38-year-old man was charged after he was caught driving while more than three times over the legal limit, and with his nine-year-old in the car.
Sen-Const Chris Westrope of Yarrawonga police said officers received complaints of a man driving erratically from Wilby towards Cobram.
He was tracked down in Green Lane at Koonoomoo and blew a positive breath test, later returning a reading of 0.158.
The man was charged and will appear at Cobram Magistrates Court at a later date.
“It’s not on at any time, but when you’ve got a child in the car it’s an incredible act of stupidity,” Sen-Const Westrope said.
“How many times do we have to say it: if you drink and drive, you’re a bloody idiot, especially when you put your own kids at risk.”