UPDATE: A major freeway exit has been shut down and a train line has been suspended due to a bomb threat in Hoppers Crossing.
Police say they tried to intercept a vehicle on Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing about 12.30pm but the driver refused to stop.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a short pursuit took place and the car then collided with two other vehicles at the corner of Old Geelong Road and the Princes Highway in Hoppers Crossing.
A man from one of the other vehicles received minor injuries.
The driver then fled on foot but was caught by police in a nearby car park, the spokeswoman said.
“Upon inspection of the abandoned vehicle, police located an unknown device,” the spokeswoman said.
“As a precaution, Bomb Response Unit members are on their way to assess it and the local area has been closed off.”
Major roads in Hoppers Crossing closed after a police chase and a bomb scare a short time ago #9News pic.twitter.com/FtI8hJ0s8Y
— Jo Hall (@Jo_Hall9) April 10, 2015
The second Hoppers Crossing exit on the Princes Highway has been closed and traffic is being diverted around the suburb.
Westbound traffic has been affected. Victoria Police said at 3pm the Duncans Road exit was gridlocked. Motorists have been advised to take the next exit.
V/Line trains have been suspended between Geelong, Warrnambool and Melbourne.
Metro services were replaced with buses between Werribee and Laverton after the incident. Metro advised just after 3pm that train services were resuming.
However, trains would still not stop at Hoppers Crossing until further notice due to a police request.
Both the on- and off-ramps to the highway have been closed.
Police have told people in the area that it was a bomb threat and there was man in the car who police were trying to talk down.
– With Nino Bucci
This story first appeared in The Age
