By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A CAR has deliberately rammed into a police divisional van parked in front of Dandenong police station’s entrance this morning, police say.
Police estimate the car was travelling west between 60km/h and 80km/h on Langhorne Street when it crashed front-on into the passenger’s side of a divisional van about 7am.
The collision’s force pushed the van across a parking bay, causing damage to two Ford Territory police vehicles.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen, area commander for the Greater Dandenong police division, said two police officers were in the station, set to get into the divisional van for a routine patrol within minutes of the crash.
Some officers had been outside not far from the crash, set to go on a morning run.
Inspector Kitchen said it was fortunate the officers or a member of the public weren’t struck in the impact.
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.
“It’s worrying and a stupid act. The officers are thanking their lucky stars.”
Inspector Kitchen said the male driver, 34, of the “local area”, and his male passenger, 28, of NSW, had not been wearing seatbelts.
They were cut from the vehicle and taken to The Alfred hospital with non-life threatening injuries. They are expected to be interviewed by police in coming days.
The pair were both known to police but not facing any prior charges, Inspector Kitchen said.
Empty alcohol cans were pulled from the car’s wreckage but preliminary testing found neither of the car occupants had alcohol in their system.
The two had yet to have blood tests for alcohol and drug content.
Inspector Kitchen said passers-by had spoken to the pair soon after the crash. Both were “disoriented from the collision”, he said.
Major Collision Investigation Unit police were investigating the scene this morning.
“It’s a wake-up call for everybody,” Inspector Kitchen said. “It can happen anywhere.”
