A new dad and amateur cage fighter has been revealed as the driver who died in a fiery crash while fleeing police in Melbourne.
John Beirouti, 43, died when his car hit a tree and burst into flames on Stud Road in Dandenong North early on Sunday morning.
Mr Beirouti, who was known to police, evaded officers when they tried to intercept him on Stud Road in Rowville over an “outstanding matter” about 3.30am.
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But police said he failed to stop and sped off through a red light. Police deployed stop sticks on Stud Road near the intersection of Brady Road as they tried to bring him to a halt.
Moments later Mr Beirouti’s SUV hit a tree near the intersection of Mcfees Road, with police officers pulling him from the burning wreckage.
They applied first aid with the help of a passing ambulance but Mr Beirouti, of Maribyrnong, died at the scene.
His partner, Argina Baker, said her “heart is so broken”.
“I will always and forever love you … missing you so much,” she posted on Facebook.
“I haven’t the words right now … rest in peace my love, till we meet again.”
In a statement provided to 9 News, Ms Baker said Mr Beirouti had a “heart of gold and he loved us with every fibre of his being”.
“He made us laugh, he made us cry, but he was always there, he was always trying as best he could,” she said.
Friends said Mr Beirouti had been trying to overcome his criminal past, which included assault and domestic violence charges.
Superintendent Helen Sattler would not say what outstanding matter police initially tried to intercept him over but said there was nothing to indicate it was a stolen car.
She said police deployed the stop sticks due to his erratic driving, but it was not a pursuit and officers followed the car from a distance “to see where it was going to end up”.
Superintendent Sattler said it was quite confronting and distressing for the officers first on the scene who tried to save Mr Beirouti.
“It is never a nice incident to attend to and they showed great courage in pulling the driver out of the car while it was on fire,” she said.
“We will be offering counselling to those members and also to the family of the deceased person if they so desire.”
Mr Beirouti is also being remembered as a champion local footballer and club legend of Karratha Kats Football Club from the Pilbara region in northern Western Australia.
“‘Animal’ loved his beloved Kats and was not too tall but never short on confidence,” the club posted on its Facebook page.
“Always the life of the party. The memories you leave behind are full of love and laughter.
“You will never be forgotten and your name now always a legend in the walls of the Kattery.”
Mr Beirouti was a talented sportsman who also competed in MMA and won bouts in the Australian Fighting Championship.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are probing whether speed was a factor in the crash.
Professional Standards Command will oversee the investigation as is standard procedure when a death occurs following contact with police.
A report will also be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with dashcam footage has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
