by Luke Voogt
Thieves sped along the wrong side of Princes Fwy in a stolen ute before police stopped them near Lara on Monday morning.
Footage taken from a vehicle across the freeway showed the 4WD ute travelling approximately 100km/h in the wrong direction in a service lane.
7News reported the ute had been travelling in the wrong direction of the Geelong-bound lanes towards Melbourne before making a U-turn.
A fleet of marked and unmarked police cars then intercepted and stopped the ute near Lara.
Police arrested a 30-year-old woman, a 23-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man allegedly driving the vehicle.
Geelong Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie described the trio’s actions as “stupid”.
“You really can’t describe it really – let’s be honest,” he said.
“They were putting a number of people (in) danger, not only themselves but the people … concentrating on going to work on a busy Monday morning.”
Paramedics treated the 25-year-old man for minor injuries and took him to University Hospital Geelong, an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson confirmed.
“As a result of the collision … the driver had minor injuries and also had some sort of medical episode that we’re looking at,” Det Sen Sgt Guthrie said.
Det Sen Sgt Guthrie was thankful police managed to stop the vehicle without any further injuries.
“We’re very grateful and glad that happened – that we could bring it to an end without anyone getting seriously hurt or any other person getting involved,” he said.
Police first began tracking the trio following reports they stole a Nissan ute from a Western Fwy service station near Melton about 5.20am.
Officers monitored the ute to the Geelong area before initiating a pursuit on Princes Fwy near Lara, a police spokesperson said.
The ute had “certainly” travelled “above the speed limit of 100km/h” following the theft, Det Sen Sgt Guthrie said.
Police believed the ute struck at least two other vehicles after the theft, he said.
Police charged a Warrnambool man with 32 offences including car theft and a number of traffic offences before remanding him in custody to appear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
A 30-year-old Dandenong woman and a 23-year-old Mount Pleasant woman also face charges for car theft, and drugs and weapons offences.
They were bailed to appear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on 20 January.
Police urged anyone who witnessed the white ute or has dash cam footage to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
