A MERRICKS woman died when the car in which she was a passenger and a tow truck collided at Tuerong, Saturday afternoon 1 February.
Her husband, 53, and daughter, 18, who was driving the car, also of Merricks, were airlifted to The Alfred hospital with serious injuries after the collision on Balnarring Road, near Gillett Road, about 3pm.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the crash which caused both vehicles to run off the road and down an embankment. The woman, 53, sitting in the back seat, died at the scene.
Three crews from Moorooduc CFA and two from Dromana CFA attended the scene and cut the father and daughter in the front seat from the wreckage.
The daughter, reportedly with multiple injuries, was described as being in a “serious but stable” condition and her father with leg injuries was described as “stable” on Monday morning.
Acting Sergeant Michael Gridley, of Somerville Highway Patrol, attended the scene which he described as a “shocker”.
He said the tow truck driver – a 39-year-old Lyndhurst man – may have lost control when his truck, carrying a car on its tray, veered around a bend near Old Moorooduc Road in wet weather.
The driver was taken to the Frankston Hospital as a precaution before being taken into custody. He was later released with no charges laid at the time.
The woman’s death comes after three people died on Mornington Peninsula roads in the first two weeks of the year (“Deadly start to year on peninsula roads” The News 21/1/20).
This follows 12 road deaths on the peninsula in 2019 – which included double fatalities at Mt Eliza and Bittern – and the deaths of two motorcyclists.
The driver of a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV died on Baxter-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale, when he attempted to overtake two cars and collided head-on with a semi-trailer, Tuesday 14 January.
Two men aged 28 and 33 died in a two-car collision at the intersection of Hygeia and Bimble streets, Rye, Monday 13 January. There were five occupants in the car. Despite ambulance crews working furiously the driver, from Chile, died at the scene and a passenger died in hospital.
Anyone who witnessed Saturday’s Balnarring Road crash, or who has further information or dash-cam footage, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
First published in the Western Port News – 5 February 2020
