A dramatic police chase through Melbourne's eastern suburbs reached a violent conclusion in Mitcham on Thursday afternoon, leaving four people hospitalised after a suspect vehicle collided head-on with a police car.
The incident unfolded around 4:30 PM when Victoria Police officers attempted to intercept a vehicle of interest in the Mitcham area. What began as a routine traffic stop rapidly escalated into a high-speed pursuit through residential streets.
Chaotic Scene on Whitehorse Road
The chase reached its climax on the busy Whitehorse Road corridor, where the fleeing vehicle allegedly rammed into a marked police vehicle near the intersection of Mitcham Road. The impact sent debris scattering across multiple lanes and brought peak-hour traffic to a standstill.
"The collision was incredibly loud - like an explosion," one shaken witness reported. "We saw the police car spin around and smoke everywhere. People came running from all directions to help."
Emergency Response and Hospitalisations
Emergency services descended upon the scene within minutes, with multiple ambulances, fire trucks, and additional police units responding to the chaotic situation.
Four individuals were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including:
- Two police officers from the struck vehicle
- The driver of the suspect vehicle
- One passenger from the same car
Paramedics treated several individuals at the scene for minor injuries and shock before transporting the more seriously injured to nearby hospitals for further assessment.
Major Traffic Disruption and Investigation
The collision forced the complete closure of Whitehorse Road in both directions during the evening commute, creating traffic gridlock throughout Melbourne's eastern suburbs that lasted for several hours.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have launched a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding both the pursuit and the subsequent crash. Forensic officers remained on scene late into the evening, documenting evidence and reconstructing the sequence of events.
Victoria Police has confirmed that the incident will also be subject to standard internal review procedures, as is protocol with all police pursuits resulting in significant collisions.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage of either the pursuit or the crash itself is urged to contact Crime Stoppers as investigations continue.
