By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN will answer eight charges after deliberately ramming a police divisional van parked outside Dandenong Police Station last Thursday morning.
The alleged driver of the car, Saravanan Rajasakaram, 34, of no fixed address, has been charged with three counts of conduct endangering life, three counts of reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage and traffic offences.
He appeared in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where the case was adjourned and he remained in custody.
His passenger, a 30-year-old man of no fixed address, remained in hospital being assessed and was yet to be interviewed.
Police estimate the car was travelling west at between 60 and 80 kilometres per hour on Langhorne Street when it careered into the passenger side of a divisional van about 7am.
The force of the collision pushed the van across a parking bay, damaging two other police vehicles.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen said two police officers were minutes from getting into the van for a routine patrol when the crash took place, and others had been standing nearby.
He said it was “obvious that it was deliberate but we’re not sure why the deliberate act took place”.
“It could have been a serious injury or fatality.
“It’s the first time a deliberate act like this has happened (at this station),” he said.
Insp Kitchen said the car’s occupants had not been wearing seatbelts, were cut from the vehicle and were taken to The Alfred hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
He said they were known to police but not facing any prior charges.
Preliminary testing found neither of the car occupants had alcohol in their system.
