In Victoria, a tragic spate of ten accidents over the past 72 hours has resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, prompting police to express their frustration over preventable road fatalities.
One particularly serious incident occurred this morning in Melbourne’s north-east, where a multi-vehicle crash took two lives. A 54-year-old woman from Balwyn North was reportedly driving a silver SUV north on Fitzsimons Lane around 9:30 am, when she crossed over to the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a small hatchback, resulting in the instant deaths of both occupants of the hatchback. The woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries, under police guard as investigations into the crash began.
Authorities, including Victoria Police Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir, are exploring the possibility of alcohol impairment as a contributing factor, indicating a concerning trend of impaired driving, especially so early in the week. The SUV driver’s suspected impairment on a Monday morning raises serious safety concerns.
The tragic pattern of road fatalities was further exacerbated with reports of seven additional deaths in the state within the same period, raising alarm among officials. Weir lamented the loss of nine lives as “devastating,” underscoring that many of these deaths were completely avoidable. This year marks a troubling increase in road deaths, with the toll reaching a 14-year high of 159 fatalities so far.
Weir emphasised the urgent need for collaboration in reducing these figures, stating, “We are working really hard to try and reduce the lives lost, but we can’t do it on our own and we need everyone to help us.”
In further updates, a motorcyclist was confirmed dead following a collision with a car on Mountain Highway in Wantirna earlier this morning. Initial investigations indicate that the vehicle did not give way to the motorcycle while turning. Meanwhile, a man has been charged in relation to another fatal incident that took place on Saturday night near Melton, where a collision involving two cars and two motorcycles resulted in the death of a female rider.
The ongoing investigations across these incidents aim to provide clarity, yet highlights the persistent challenges faced on Victoria’s roads. As authorities continue to investigate these occurrences, community cooperation is deemed essential for improving road safety and preventing future tragedies.