A SPEEDING car collided with a tree in Dandenong early on Sunday morning, just as police were preparing to pull over its driver.
Dandenong Inspector Bruce Kitchen attended the scene.
“It was six inches away from two people being dead,” he said.
Officers from Dandenong were patrolling the area about 5.15am on 21 July when they saw a white Holden Commodore sedan speeding east on Princes Highway, near the Heatherton Road overpass.
They performed a U-turn to follow but discovered the car had crashed into a tree a short distance up the road.
Police said the marked vehicle did not have its emergency lights activated and was not engaged in a pursuit.
The male driver was taken to The Alfred with life-threatening injuries and his female passenger was taken to Dandenong Hospital with minor injuries.
The vehicle had false plates WFI 950.
Detectives want to speak to anyone who might have witnessed the collision or seen the car before the collision.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au with any information.