Police have released CCTV of vehicles and people they are looking to identify as part of an investigation into a Truganina collision last month in which four youths died.
The victims’ vehicle was travelling along Dohertys Road when it collided with a truck near Forsyth Road about 7.30pm on Thursday, September 30.
Four teenage boys, including the 16-year-old driver and his passengers aged 15, 16 and 17, were killed in the collision.
Two other male passengers aged 15 and 17 sustained life-threatening injuries.
The 28-year-old male driver, who was the sole occupant of the truck, was taken to hospital with serious lower body injuries.
Homicide Squad detectives are now working with the Major Collision Investigation Unit to investigate the circumstances of the collision.
This includes any incidents which may have contributed to why the victim’s vehicle was being driven in the speed and manner that it was at the time of the collision.
A Victoria Police statement, released today, said: “There is nothing at this time to indicate any culpability on behalf of the truck driver.”
Investigators are looking into an incident that occurred shortly before the crash, about 7.22pm outside the Tarneit Shopping Centre on Derrimut Road, about five kilometres from the collision scene.
The occupants of the victim’s vehicle were involved in some type of altercation with the occupants of three other vehicles, which police have identified as being a red Volkswagen Golf GTI, a blue Volkswagen Golf R and a red Holden VF Commodore.
Each of these three vehicles contained a number of unknown male occupants.
Police are yet to determine the reason for the altercation and any relevance it may have to the collision.
Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who can identify the three vehicles and their occupants, as well as anyone who can provide further information about this altercation and the reason for it.
They are also appealing for the occupants of the three vehicles to come forward and speak to police.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, from the Homicide Squad, said the altercation may have no connection but that police needed to speak to the occupants of the three vehicles to find out more.
“This collision has led to at least seven lives being irrevocably changed – four young lives have been taken far too soon, two others have been dramatically altered, and we have an innocent truck driver who will no doubt take a long time to recover from his experience,” he said.
“We’re hopeful that the investigation can provide some answers to each of the victims’ families about why this tragic incident occurred.
Police would also like to speak to anyone who has CCTV or dash-cam footage from the night of the crash.
In particular, police are asking people who live in or travel through the Truganina and Tarneit areas, around Poplar Boulevard, Derrimut Road and Dohertys Road, to check their footage for the night between 5pm and 8pm.
Anyone witnesses or anyone with footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
