A teenage driver has been lucky to walk away unscathed after allegedly flipping his car while speeding away from police who caught him doing burnouts.
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They spotted the car with the fake number plate “J BEAM” on Gibson Street in Wangaratta at about 10.45pm Thursday night, but it fled when it saw the police car approaching.
Acting Sergeant Guy Mitchell said police tried to follow the car, but the driver allegedly turned off the headlights and sped away from the scene in complete darkness.
Police patrolling the streets found the upside-down car on its roof in Gibson Street, with the 19-year-old driver beside the vehicle and a rear wheel still spinning.
“The young man was incredibly lucky to have exited the vehicle uninjured,” Sergeant Mitchell said.
“It was apparent he was travelling too fast turning into Gibson Street and overshot the corner, striking a wire power-pole support pylon which has flipped the car on its roof.
“If he had a passenger at the time, he would have certainly seriously injured or killed them in the incident.”
The 19-year-old’s licence had allegedly been suspended at the time and he was charged with offences including reckless conduct endangering life and driving in a manner dangerous.
He was released pending a summons to attend Wangaratta Magistrates Court.
“My thanks go out to the SES volunteers who attended and assisted with lighting up the scene, enabling police to thoroughly conduct their tasks,” Sergeant Mitchell said.
