Gary Oke says a dummy suspended from an Endeavour Hill’s bridge was a dumb prank.
By Rebecca Fraser
A LIFE like dummy was suspended from an overpass bridge in Endeavour Hills in a prank dubbed by police as silly and dangerous.
The apparent practical joke caused traffic headaches and much concern among motorists as at least one truck swerved to miss the model which was suspended from the Power Road overpass bridge by a rope.
Police received a flood of calls from concerned passers by who were shocked to see the life-size dummy dangling over the city bound lanes of the Monash Freeway.
Many believed the dummy was a real person.
Among them was Endeavour Hills resident Gary Oke who was one of the first people to notice the suspended dummy and pull over on the side of the road.
Mr Oke said the dummy looked very lifelike and he immediately thought it was a real person suspended.
He ran up an embankment and said it was not until he reached the top of the bridge that he realised that it was a dummy.
The St John Ambulance volunteer said the whole incident had wasted police and ambulance resources and had caused a dangerous traffic hazard for drivers along the Monash Freeway.
“I thought it was a body. It was very well done.
“Someone had put a lot of effort into it. It had blue overalls on, it was stuffed with paper or something and it had shoes and some sort of hat on.
“It was hanging by a rope tied onto the bridge,” Mr Oke said.
Mr Oke said many drivers had tried to swerve and miss the dummy and some were visibly distressed by the prank.
“It was a great waste of resources when you think of the police and ambulances that came out.
“Other people were stopping and a lot of people were concerned. A few women were upset by it.
“I saw one truck swerve to miss it and another cleaned it right up.
“People were high beaming it and everyone was trying to work out what was going on.
“It was a huge risk and it had a big impact on traffic,” Mr Oke said.
Constable Tem Hawkes of Endeavour Hills police said police had received many calls from concerned drivers.
He encouraged anyone who knew who was responsible for the incident to contact police.
“It was a silly and dangerous prank. It was very reckless and stupid and it is lucky that no one got hurt.
“I could definitely see how a truck might see it and swerve. It could have been very messy,” Const Hawkes said.
The incident occurred about 10pm on Saturday 30 September, Grand Final Day. Const Hawkes said it was most likely a Grand Final day prank.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Narre Warren police on 9705 3111.
