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A BADLY injured car thief clambered from a burning wreck and escaped police despite being doused with capsicum spray yesterday.
He crashed into a funeral home trying to outrun pursuing police, then fled with blood pouring from his face and elbow.
Police found a gun in the wrecked car and said the man, aged in his 20s or 30s, might be dangerous.
Police began chasing him about 8am after the stolen red Holden Astra sped past a stationary squad car on Mornington Peninsula Freeway at 120km/h.
The Astra careered off the road at Thames Promenade, Chelsea Heights, before flying off an embankment into the funeral home.
Loxley Baxter, manager of the Gateway Grant funeral home in Chelsea Heights, said staff had left the foyer just minutes before the car crash.
“We had just been out there where the car hit,” Mrs Baxter said.
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“There was a lot of smoke. It was on its roof.
“One of our staff members ran out and pulled the man from the car, which was on fire.
“Then I think he ran off.”
Gateway Grant funeral home manager Loxley Baxter. Picture: Fiona Hamilton
The policeman involved in the chase was speaking to the driver of another car he had pulled over on the freeway, near Thompson Rd, when he saw the red Holden Astra speed past.
He approached the driver after the crash and sprayed him when he began resisting arrest.
The police air wing and dog squad were scouring Chelsea Heights without success yesterday.
Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said police were unsure whether the man was armed.
He was wearing dark pants and a white T-shirt.
– with Angus Thompson