By CASEY NEILL
THE dog squad has sniffed out three would-be hoons who crashed into a power pole in Springvale.
A patrolling canine unit spotted a white Ford station wagon being driven erratically on Springvale Road near Virginia Street about 9.30pm on Tuesday 15 September.
The driver sped away when the officers tried to intercept the car.
A short time later it travelled at speed through a red light at Springvale and Heatherton roads, tried to avoid another car and crashed.
Three men ran from the scene but the dog squad handler and his canine counterpart tracked them down in a nearby bowls club car park.
The 21-year-old from Dandenong and two Springvale men, aged 22 and 30, were taken to The Alfred and Dandenong hospitals for treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
Springvale Police Sergeant Luke Holmes said it was amazing the men were able to exit the car, let alone run from police.
“It is just so lucky another car was not involved or an innocent motorist injured,” he said.
“The car travelled through the intersection and sliced a power pole in half, lighting up the sky.
“A traffic light was also taken out, a number of signs were hit and power nearby was affected.”
Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor.
It is expected the driver will be interviewed at a later date in relation to a number of traffic-related offences.
