A child has been flown to Melbourne with serious injuries after a man allegedly drove after two kids riding motorised bikes in a north-west Victorian shopping mall.
Victoria Police arrested and charged 56-year-old New South Wales man Andrew Brien 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 the pedestrian-only Langtree Mall.
Crime scene investigators gather evidence after a collision in Langtree Mall. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
The ute hit both children. Both boys sustained upper body injuries and were taken to hospital, with one being flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne in a serious condition.
Andrew Brien, 56, will return to court next week for a bail application. (Supplied: Facebook)
Mr Brien made no application for bail after appearing in Mildura Magistrates’ Court late on Friday, and will re-appear in court next week.
He 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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