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UPDATE: Police have arrested a 33-year-old Hillside man over a hit-and-run incident in Delahey which has left one teen dead and another fighting for her life.
Jasmine Vuong and her friend Anthony Nguyen, both 17, were mowed down by an SUV while crossing the intersection of Taylors and Braeswood roads about 11.30pm on Tuesday.
Police arrested the Hillside man at his home on Thursday afternoon. A car, which matched a description given earlier on Thursday by police, was also found at his house.
Another person is assisting police with their inquiries.
Police on Thursday released CCTV footage of a vehicle they are searching for following the fatal hit-and-run.
Major Collision Investigation Group (MCIG) detectives have identified a headlight recovered at the scene belongs to a light-coloured Nissan Dualis SUV, manufactured between October 2007 and January 2010.
MCIG Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin urged the community to keep a look-out for the vehicle and called on mechanics and panel beaters who might have repaired or sold a replacement headlight to come forward.
“This vehicle is missing its passenger-side headlight so it’s pretty obvious it has been involved in a collision,” he said.
“The damage is extensive enough that it’s not possible the driver hasn’t realise they have hit someone.
“For someone to hit two teenagers and then leave without attempting to help them is disgraceful.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Earlier on Thursday morning, Suong Phung, whose daughter Jasmine Vuong, is fighting for her life, wonders how someone could leave her teenage daughter lying bleeding and seemingly lifeless in the middle of the road without so much as pausing to call triple-0.
“Their lives were reliant on that call and he … not make any call to save their lives and he just run away,” she said.
Jasmine Vuong was crossing the intersection of Taylors and Braeswood roads in Delahey with her friend Anthony Nguyen about 11.30pm on Tuesday.
The teens, both 17, had just stepped onto the road on a green pedestrian signal when they were mowed down by a car running a red light.
The driver did not stop, leaving the two teens for dead, both with critical head injuries.
Neighbours reported hearing a bang and seeing two bodies lying on the road.
“They didn’t move. They did not move,” one resident told Seven News.
A heavily pregnant Ms Phung received a knock on her door from police at midnight.
“They said it’s a hit and run and … we have to prepare ourselves,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
Mr Nguyen, who suffered severe head injuries, died in the intensive care unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Wednesday evening.
Ms Vuong remains in a critical condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She has undergone surgery for a fractured skull. The 17-year-old is also suffering multiple broken bones, including a broken arm and a broken hip.
Jasmine was due to start year 12 at Copperfield College on Thursday.
Principal Tony Simpson said the impact of the tragedy would be far reaching among students and the wider Vietnamese community. It is understood Jasmine’s younger siblings and cousins also attend Copperfield.
He said critical incident teams from the Department of Education were on all three campuses of Copperfield College on Thursday.
“There is support and counselling available for friends and family,” he said.
Anthony reportedly left Keilor Downs College in September to take up an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic in Deer Park.
His distraught parents released a statement on Wednesday thanking the community for their thoughts and support.
The teenagers’ shoes surrounded by debris from the car, including pieces of plastic from the car’s broken headlights, were all that remained at the scene on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, road policing Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said he could not comprehend the merciless actions of the driver.
“I cannot understand why a motorist, having struck two pedestrians, would not stop to render assistance,” he said on Wednesday.
“It is morally just a disgrace in my mind.
“I’m very confident that our investigators will identify that person and that person will be brought to justice sooner rather than later.”
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are investigating.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have further information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
With Charlene Macaulay
