A child has been flown to Melbourne with serious injuries after a man allegedly drove after two kids riding motorised bikes in a north-east Victorian shopping mall.
Victoria Police has arrested and charged a 57-year-old New South Wales man after the incident which occurred just after 11pm on Thursday in Mildura.
Authorities said the driver of the ute followed the two 12-year-old boys through Langtree Mall.
The ute hit both children. Both boys sustained upper body injuries and were taken to hospital, with one being flown to Melbourne in a serious condition.
Crime scene investigators gather evidence after a collision in Langtree Mall. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
The 57-year-old man has been charged with four counts of reckless conduct endangering life, and one count each of intentionally causing injury, drive in a dangerous manner, and dangerous driving causing serious injury.
The crime scene
A large crime scene, spanning half the length of the mall, was established shortly after the incident.
A mangled motorised pushbike with a child’s cap attached. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
Part of a misting system at the Eighth Street end of the mall had been uprooted by the impact, and was splayed across a nearby street.
A light fixture was also heavily damaged in the incident, as was a motorised pushbike.
Rubber tyre marks were seen along the pavement.
Fresh tyre marks were visible on the Langtree Mall pavement. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the collision or had any information to contact Crime Stoppers.
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