Cade Lucas
Police charged three teenagers on Tuesday in relation to a dangerous off-road hooning incident in Truganina..
Three 15-year-old boys were arrested and three dirt-bikes seized after police executed search warrants at properties Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Williamstown on September 19.
The arrests follow an extensive investigation into an incident at Sayers Road, Truganina on July 29 where a group of about 15 off-road motorbike riders rode dangerously in front of police, circled their vehicle and sprayed dirt and rocks on officers.
Police had earlier arrested one of the group for dangerous riding.
The three 15 year olds arrested on Tuesday were charged with a range of traffic offences, including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, driving in a dangerous manner, careless driving, unlicensed driving, driving an unregistered motor vehicle and improper use of a motor vehicle.
The trio were bailed to appear before a children’s court at a later date and police will also apply for forfeiture of the three seized dirt-bikes at court.
Westgate Police Division Inspector Jennifer Horgan said police had zero tolerance for dangerous drivers and hoons.
“Westgate Highway Patrol is relentless in tracking down those who think they can endanger our roads and get away with it,” Inspector Horgan said.
The July 29 incident is among a number involving underage and unlicensed dirt-bike riders in Wyndham and Melbourne’s west this year.
On September 3 an 17-year-old Hoppers Crossing boy and an 18-year-old Altona Meadows woman were killed when the off-road bikes they were riding collided at Grangefields near Melton.
Two other boys aged 6 and 11 were seriously injured in the crash.
In June, Wyndham council donated two Husqvarna off-road motorbikes to Victoria Police to help them crackdown on illegal and reckless dirt-bike hooning in the area.
Inspector Horgan said parents had a role to play in curbing dangerous riding too.
“I’m urging parents to have a conversation with their children around the safe use of bikes as riding them on our streets and through parks illegally is not ok,” she said.
“You might think it’s harmless fun but one day it could end in tragedy.”
