By Aneeka Simonis
POLICE are yet to find the naked driver at the centre of a wild and dangerous pursuit which shocked motorists travelling in the south-eastern suburbs on Tuesday.
A teenage girl from Narre Warren, who was let out of the stolen getaway car in Pakenham, has been released by police pending further inquiries. The search for the driver last seen heading toward the Western Port Highway from Cranbourne continues.
The pursuit began in Berwick about 10.10am on Tuesday 29 November, after police responded to a seemingly unstable naked man walking around a vacant block of land in Berwick.
Witness footage shows the man get into a reportedly stolen white Toyota Hilux bearing false plates, and drive from the vacant block with the female teen in tow.
The driver was picked up driving erratically on the Princes Freeway in Berwick, forcing a large-scale police chase which involved more than half a dozen police cars and the air wing.
Police pursued the car through Narre Warren, Pakenham and Berwick before terminating the pursuit in Cranbourne just after 11am.
The car was last seen on Cranbourne-Frankston Road in Cranbourne heading towards the Western Port Highway.
Casey Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Senior Constable Ray Gunton said a 19-year-old Narre Warren woman was in the car throughout the pursuit, but was let out in Pakenham.
“It’s understood he was going to continue to drive and she was going to get out. She didn’t want to be involved in the matter any further,” he said.
She was taken in for questioning, but has since been released pending further inquiries.
At a media briefing after the incident, police would not confirm the pair’s relationship, but said the teen co-operated with police inquiries.
At least two police cars were damaged in the wild pursuit.
One was witnessed driving on Henry Road, Pakenham, with a damaged bumper, and another believed to be involved in the pursuit was towed away from Dandenong police station, covered in OC spray.
Footage also shows the car colliding with a ute in Cranbourne.
Det Sen Const Gunton said it was lucky no-one was seriously injured.
“It’s a great concern for us that this person has driven as erratically as he has. We ask this male to hand himself in to the nearest police station, so this matter can be resolved,” he said.
The car was fitted with false registration plates: AKC 72.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have any footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report at www crimestoppersvic.com.au
