Police say a 16-year-old who crashed into a Dennington chemist while street racing overnight is lucky to be alive.
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The youth is in the Warrnambool Base Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Warrnambool police Sergeant Tom Morris said officers saw two vehicles racing west along Raglan Parade at 11.15pm near Rooneys Road.
"Police members did a U-turn and heard a bang, realising there had been a collision," he said.
"The 16-year-old driver in the Lancer with a 16-year-old male passenger has lost control, gone through a railing and then off a 1.5 metre embankment, through the Dennington Woolworths car park and into the chemist building.
"It was pretty spectacular.
"The driver was transported to the Warrnambool Base Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He's still there."
Sergeant Morris said the second vehicle, a Mitsubishi Mirage, was being driven by an 18-year-old woman from Grassmere.
"She stopped at the accident scene and then drove off. Inquiries were made and the woman presented at the Warrnambool police station where she was interviewed and released without being charged, yet."
The woman's vehicle has been impounded for 30 days, which will attract impoundment fees of about $1200.
The woman is expected to be charged with a range of offences and appear in Warrnambool court at a later date.
The 16-year-old male driver is yet to be interviewed.
"The driver and passenger were just lucky," Sergeant Morris said.
"The outcome of this collision could have been far far worse. We're talking about very inexperienced drivers travelling at very high speeds."
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