Dramatic arrest in Geelong as car rams into packed school bus before crashing at busy intersection: ‘Shots fired’
Two people have been arrested on a busy road in Geelong after ramming a stolen car into a school bus, forcing children to take shelter behind seats.
The black car reversed into the bus, carrying students from Sacred Heart College and St Joseph’s College, on Latrobe Terrace near Matthew Flinders Secondary College in an alleged attempt to flee police shortly before 4pm on Thursday.
Witnesses reported children screaming and at least two gunshots, before the car was involved in a crash at an intersection just minutes later.
About a dozen police cars have swarmed the area, along with paramedics, and officers are diverting traffic with the road closed in both direction near Myers St.
Footage from the scene shows uniformed and plain-clothes police officers standing over one person, who was handcuffed and sitting on the asphalt next to a black hatchback with a huge dent in the back rear door.
A traffic light also appears to have been hit and lies horizontal across the road.
It’s understood a man and woman were driving a Kia Optima, allegedly stolen in NSW, when it was spotted by the Police Air Wing near the intersection of Princes Highway and Roebuck Street in Newtown.
‘Officers attempted to intercept the vehicle before it allegedly reversed into a school bus in an attempt to flee,’ Victoria Police said in a statement.
A major incident is unfolding in Geelong with reports a car rammed into a school bus on Latrobe Terrace before crashing at an intersection
Traffic is backed up along Latrobe Terrace near Myers St
There were reports of a police chase before the car crashed at the intersection
‘The Kia is alleged to have driven at officers, who have discharged their firearm, before it collided with another vehicle.
‘The two occupants of the Kia, a man and woman from New South Wales, fled on foot but were arrested nearby.’
The man, 37, was taken to hospital under police guard after suffering a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his arm.
The woman, 37, was also hospitalised under police guard.
A female driver of a separate vehicle was also transported to hospital with minor injuries.
‘Armed Crime Squad detectives will investigate the incident with Professional Standards Command oversight, as is standard practice when a police firearm is discharged,’ Victoria Police said.
Motorists have been advised to avoid the area using Ryrie St, Moorabool St, and McKillop St.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
