TRAGIC TOLL AFTER
Two lives lost, two hang in balance
TWO families are in mourning and two are holding bedside vigils following a 12-hour string of horror road collisions that have left two dead and two fighting for life.
Those killed include a 16year-old Barwon Heads girl who died when the 4WD in which she was a passenger rolled at Gellibrand, about 2.30pm Saturday.
The driver from Clifton Springs was interviewed by police and released pending further investigation.
The second was a 36-yearold Warrnambool man who died when the station wagon he was travelling in along Barwon Tce in South Geelong collided with a ute at almost the exact same time.
Geelong Highway Patrol Sergeant Peter Radford said with just six weeks to go before Christmas, the deaths would have a widespread ripple effect on the community.
“It has been a horrendous weekend. So many of these collisions could have been avoided,” he said.
“People need to be aware of their surroundings and take responsibility for their own actions, slow down, take a break, and look at the bigger picture.
“Road trauma affects everyone from the families to the schools, the general community and those who attend the scene. The impact is massive.”
Major Collision Investigation Unit police said a Nissan 4WD was travelling along Frys Rd near Colac LaversHill Rd when the 20-year-old probationary driver lost control of the vehicle and rolled a number of times, just after 2.30pm.
Sarah Crimmins, 16, who was a rear seat passenger, died at the scene.
The driver and the other female passenger, Sarah’s sister, received minor injuries.
In the second fatality police said a white Holden Commodore station wagon was travelling east along Barwon Tce
— Barwon Heads teen killed in 4WD rollover at Gellibrand. — Pedestrian, 28, hit on Grubb Rd, Ocean Grove.
— Three injured in motorbike collision on the Great Ocean Road at Lavers Hill. near Bellerine St just before 2.30pm.
It is believed a Toyota Landcruiser utility attempted to turn right into Bellerine St when the collision occurred.
A Warrnambool man who was a passenger in the station wagon was taken to hospital where he died a short time later. No one else was injured. Earlier that day, at 11am, a cyclist was hit by a car in Breakwater, with the 69-yearold East Geelong man taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.
Hours later, at 9.45pm, a female pedestrian was hit at high speed on Grubb Rd, near Adco Grove, at Ocean Grove.
The 28-year-old from St Albans Park suffered critical head injuries and was flown to a Melbourne hospital.
“She was walking along Grubb Rd north and the car was travelling the same way,” Sgt Radford said.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said both the cyclist and the pedestrian were flown to Melbourne hospitals in critical condition.
“In Breakwater ... a man in his 60s suffered head and neck injuries. He was taken through to Geelong hospital then flown to The Alfred in a critical condition,” Mr Mullen said. “At Ocean Grove a woman ... she’s been flown in a critical condition with head and chest injuries to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Yesterday afternoon three people were also injured in a motorcycle collision on the Great Ocean Road at Lavers Hill.