by Amy Hume
A FATAL collision that claimed the life of a 21-year-old Wallan man and seriously injured three teenagers last Tuesday has sparked concern over the safety of a local intersection.
Police said the crash occurred when car and a truck collided at the intersection of the Northern Highway and the Broadford-Kilmore Road just after 2pm.
The driver of the sedan died at the scene and his three passengers were seriously injured.
An 18-year-old Wallan man was found unconscious at the scene and was airlifted to The Royal Melbourne Hospital with chest injuries, fractures and possible spinal injuries. He remains in intensive care.
A 16-year-old Broadford man was also airlifted from the scene to The Alfred Hospital suffering head, shoulder and back injuries.
The third injured man was transported to The Alfred Hospital by road with chest injuries including possible rib fractures. Both are now in a stable condition.
It is believed the four teenagers are close friends.
The driver of the truck, a Dandenong man, was not injured in the collision.
Senior Constable Steve Williams, of Wallan, said police are still investigating the cause of the accident.
“The car appears to have turned out from Broadford-Kilmore Road, trying to turn right, in front of the truck that was heading south,” he said.
“It appears that for whatever reason they did not see the truck.”
This is not the first accident at this intersection.
Between January 2005 and December 2009 there were four recorded crashes, two resulting in serious injury.
All crashes involved vehicles turning right from the Northern Highway into the Broadford-Kilmore Road.
There have also been a number of unreported minor crashes, with vehicles turning into Broadford-Kilmore Road sliding off the road and into a shallow roadside ditch.
Northern Victoria VicRoads regional director Mal Kersting said VicRoads will now reassess the timing of safety improvement works for the intersection.
“VicRoads had programmed improvement works for the Northern Highway near the Broadford–Kilmore Road turn-off to start in early November,” he said.
“However, in recognition of this latest incident, we will now revisit the plans to ensure we provide the best solution.”
Member for Seymour Cindy McLeish said she was campaigning to get something done about the notorious intersection.
“People are telling me that there have been a lot of accidents in that area. Not all statistics get recorded if it’s not too serious,” she said.
“I’d like to see a review of the records and to look at the nature of the accidents, how they occurred and how to make it safer.
“I cannot stress the importance of road safety enough.”
Tuesday’s fatality brings the road toll to 214 compared to 218 at this time last year.
Police are now asking witnesses to the crash to contact Wallan Highway Patrol’s Senior Constable De Bruyckere on 57830400.
