Melbourne’s Midnight Maccas Run Goes Horribly Wrong
What starts like a scene from Fast & Furious: Frankston Edition ended with sirens, serious injuries, and one very crumpled Haval SUV. Just after 1:30 AM on Wednesday, six teenagers found themselves on the wrong side of the law – and gravity – after their allegedly stolen ride barrel-rolled down an embankment near the Hume Freeway in Epping, north of Melbourne.
According to Victoria Police, the drama began around 1:00 AM when officers spotted the red-hot Haval SUV speeding near Church Street, Whittlesea. Attempting to intercept the vehicle, officers soon lost visual contact. But don’t worry—like any high-stakes drama in Melbourne, the Air Wing came swooping in to save the plotline.
Within 20 minutes, the Air Wing tracked the speeding SUV near Plenty Road in South Morang. Officers laid down stop sticks on Bellevue Boulevard (textbook move), which punctured the tyres, but didn’t stop the joyride. The car kept going until it did what all physics-defying getaways eventually do: flipped off the road and nosedived down an embankment near the Hume Freeway entrance at O’Herns Road.
Who’s Who in the Wreck
Inside the vehicle were:
- Three 17-year-old boys
- Two 16-year-old boys
- One 19-year-old woman
All were seriously injured and taken to hospital under police guard. No charges have been laid yet, but let’s say these teens might be getting familiar with a courtroom in the near future.
Timeline: The Wild Ride
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1:00 AM | Police spot Haval SUV speeding near Church St, Whittlesea |
| 1:20 AM | Air Wing locates SUV near Plenty Rd, South Morang |
| 1:25 AM | Stop sticks deployed on Bellevue Blvd |
| 1:30 AM | SUV crashes and rolls off Hume Freeway embankment |
| ~2:00 AM | Emergency services extract and transport injured teenagers |
| Morning hours | Hume Fwy inbound lanes closed, delays hit 60+ minutes |
Road Closures and Chaos
| Location | Status |
|---|---|
| Hume Fwy (Citybound) | All lanes reopened by morning |
| O’Herns Rd Inbound Exit | Closed |
| O’Herns Rd Inbound Entry | Closed |
| O’Herns Rd (Westbound) | Closed between Gateway Blvd & the freeway |
| Detour Advised | Use Edgars Rd to Cooper St Freeway onramps |
The Car: A Stolen Haval
The vehicle in question, a Haval SUV, was allegedly nicked from Starboard Drive in Doreen on Tuesday morning. Not exactly subtle when you’re flying through suburbia at Mach 3 in a stolen Chinese SUV. But hey, if you’re going to be irresponsible, at least pick a ride with decent ground clearance?
Bigger Picture: Teen Car Thefts on the Rise
This crash wasn’t just a one-off. Youth car thefts in Victoria are part of a rising trend. According to the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria:
- Motor vehicle thefts involving offenders aged 15–19 rose 12% in the past year
- Over 2,100 teen-involved car thefts were recorded in 2024
- North Melbourne suburbs like Epping, Lalor, and Thomastown are hotspots for joyriding and vehicle thefts
Police Seeking Witnesses
Victoria Police are asking for help from the public. Anyone who:
- Saw the car speeding that night
- Has dashcam or CCTV footage
- Heard anything near O’Herns Rd or Bellevue Blvd
…should call Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Aussie Take
Let’s be real — this was not your average late-night Macca’s run. It was a crash course in why boosting a car for fun is both stupid and dangerous. Six young lives nearly ended because someone fancied a midnight burnout session. If they were looking for thrills, there are cheaper ways to get an adrenaline rush that don’t involve helicopters and spinal boards.
