A CAROLINE Springs teenager whose dog was brutally struck down and killed by a hoon driver is urging witnesses to come forward.
Mitchell Burns, 14, was walking on Edgbaston Parade with his Jack Russell terrier-cross BJ about 8.30pm on September 8 when he saw a vehicle speeding towards him.
“I saw the car speeding and I thought, he isn’t going to slow down,” Mitchell told the Weekly.
“I jumped out of the way, but he drove straight for BJ . . . he didn’t even swerve, he ran straight over him and sped off.”
The dog died at the scene.
Mitchell has been left devastated by the incident. “He was my best mate. I want people to dob this guy in. He could have killed me, too.”
Three years ago, Mitchell rescued BJ from an animal shelter.
His grandmother Heather McKenzie said the family was distraught at BJ’s death. “When I went to the police station, Mitch had blood all over him and he was crying,” she said.
“He’d wrapped him up in his favourite baseball jacket that he’d just got for his birthday. We buried BJ in the jacket when we got home.”
Ms McKenzie said hoon drivers were a problem in Caroline Springs.
“It’s a constant worry, they drive unbelievably fast down the roads . . . it’s frightening.”
Police said witnesses had reported a green Nissan Patrol being driven erratically in the area shortly before the crash. A slim, grey-haired man, possibly in his 50s, was behind the wheel.
A spokeswoman said police received several triple-0 calls leading up to the incident.
“Investigators believe the car registration begins with the letter Y,” she said.
Caroline Springs’ Acting Senior Sergeant Scott Johnson said police were seeking more information about the driver of the vehicle. “We know there were witnesses,” he said.
Information to Caroline Springs police on 9361 4700 or Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000
