Two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, were arrested today in connection with a burglary linked to a tragic car accident that resulted in the deaths of two boys in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The victims, 16-year-olds Nicholas Price and Nicholas Crick, lost their lives when the Toyota Yaris they were travelling in, which police believe to be a stolen vehicle, collided with a tree on Kelletts Road in Rowville last Sunday morning.
According to the authorities, the Yaris was reportedly taken during an aggravated burglary at a residence in Knoxfield. The police have confirmed that the 17-year-old male suspect, who is from the Knox area, voluntarily surrendered to detectives on 1 April related to the crash that occurred on 30 March. He is believed to have been in a different stolen vehicle at the time of the incident.
Following this, a second suspect, the 14-year-old, was apprehended today in Wodonga. Police allege that he was the driver of the other stolen car. Both teens are facing serious charges, with the older boy set to be charged on summons for aggravated burglary and auto theft. Meanwhile, the 14-year-old has been charged specifically with aggravated burglary.
In a situation marked by its severity, the collision was so intense that authorities had to resort to DNA and fingerprint analysis to identify the deceased boys. Reports indicate that one of the young victims had prior interactions with law enforcement.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and the burglary is ongoing, with police looking to clarify further details surrounding the events leading up to this tragic incident.