A new father and amateur cage fighter with a lengthy criminal rap sheet has died after he lost control of a car while fleeing from police.
John Beirouti was followed after officers saw him travelling through southeast Melbourne about 3.30am on Sunday in a car which had been linked to an outstanding matter .
The 43-year-old, who was known to police, refused to pull over before two of his tyres were slashed by stop sticks, sending the car spiralling out of control.
He crashed into a tree, which set the car alight.
John Beirouti (left, with his girlfriend Argina Baker, right) was pursued after officers saw him travelling through southeast Melbourne about 3.30am on Sunday in a car which had been linked to an outstanding matter