A former soldier has died after the explosive vest he was wearing after visiting his ex-partner detonated while he drove over a speed bump, sending a Melbourne street into lockdown for more than 12 hours.
Following reports of an accident, police were dispatched to Hallam’s quiet cul de sac on Saturday afternoon.
Footage shows the dramatic moment the homemade explosive vest exploded and erupted into flames after the man hit the bump while driving along Young Road.
The car continued travelling down the road for several hundred metres before it crashed into a parked vehicle at the corner of Homewood Boulevard.
Bomb Response Unit Officers were dispatched to the scene, and they blocked the surrounding area for 12 hours.
The body of 43-year-old Dandenong father was found inside the vehicle by police.
It’s understood the man had been at the home of his ex-partner shortly before the incident, Seven News reported.
Ben Augel of Ben’s recalls that the loud noise was a “big bang” at 11 AM.
“They blocked the roads and had police control over everything. There were 15 officers all around.
A shocked neighbour added: ‘The car was just passing and the fire came from the driver’s side suddenly,’
“It is frightening for me, because the whole day I and my children were home.”
The moment that the homemade explosive vest of the driver detonated following a collision in Hallam, Melbourne’s south east on Saturday was captured by Footage Caption.
The street was closed for twelve hours by police, while bomb and arson response officers spent nearly 24 hours inspecting the area to make sure it was safe.
This man’s suicide is being treated with suspicion.
According to a spokesperson for the police, the Arson and Explosives squad is currently investigating the circumstances of his death.
Bomb Response Unit personnel attended to the scene due to the explosives found inside the vehicle. It took quite some time for them to make these safe.
This drama took place within close proximity to an aged care facility.
Local resident that wasn’t at home when the crash occurred posted via Facebook that he could not return to the house before 11 AM on the morning.
One woman told 3AW residents were ordered to stay inside their homes as remote-controlled robots deactivated the explosive items.
According to her, the funeral home remained the same as the dead while bomb response units worked hard through the evening and night. She spoke on Monday.
Families and friends of the ex-soldier have made a visit to the site to offer their condolences.
A spray-painted message on brick walls read, “Dad. My soldier 4ever,”
It crashed into a car parked at the intersection of Young Street (pictured), in Hallam in Melbourne’s south-east.