FIX THIS DEATH TRAP
RESIDENTS DEMAND ACTION
THE intersection where a crash left a teen motorcyclist with terrible injuries has been described as a death trap waiting to happen.
In just three days, more than 1000 people have signed a petition calling for urgent safety upgrades at the intersection of Presidents Ave and Orton St in Ocean Grove.
Tyler Peace, 18, has undergone three surgeries to insert pins and plates into his pelvis following an accident at the “blind spot”.
“How many more serious accidents resulting in serious, if not life-threatening, injury will it take for action?” KELLI FINLAYSON
FED-UP Ocean Grove residents are calling for an immediate fix to a dangerous intersection that claimed another casualty last week.
Since his collision with a Mitsubishi Magna on Monday night, motorbike rider Tyler Peace, 18, has undergone three surgeries to insert pins and plates into his pelvis.
He faces a long recovery after breaking his pelvis, pubic bone, left wrist and right elbow in the accident at the corner of Presidents Ave and Orton St.
Two crashes at the intersection have resulted in serious injury during the past five years, but locals fear the “blind spot” may claim a life if action is not taken.
More than 1000 people signed a petition over three days, calling for a fix to the “dangerous and unsafe” corner.
VicRoads says it will work to “identify safety improvements” at the intersection, and residents have called for a roundabout or traffic lights to be installed.
Mr Peace’s mother Clare said locals avoided the intersection because a crest in the road blocked the view of drivers turning right out of Presidents Ave on to Orton St.
“It is a blind spot. If you are turning right, you just cannot see and don’t have enough time to move into the intersection,” she said.
“We just want something to happen so this doesn’t happen to someone else or someone is killed.
“A set of traffic lights would be the safest option but that could bank up traffic on the road. It’s a 50km/h zone, but no one ever goes 50.”
The Presidents Ave side of the intersection is covered by a stop sign but a steep rise in the road obstructs the view of drivers.
Ms Peace said driving through the intersection at night was risky because the area was poorly lit.
She said her son faced months of intense rehabilitation after surgery.
“He’s doing pretty well and is in high spirits. He is pretty determined and a strong young man so he will come out on top of this,” she said.
Police investigating the collision said excessive speed was not considered an issue.
Petition organiser Kelli Finlayson urged authorities not to wait for a death before taking action.
“The intersection has extremely poor visibility for approaching drivers due to its position on a crest and the unusual misalignment of Presidents Ave’s north and south entry points to Orton S St,” she said. “How many more serious accidents resulting in serious, if not lifethreatening, injury will it take for action?
“Let’s not wait for a death b before we see action.”
Responsibility for the corner is split between Geelong council and VicRoads.
“We’re working with the City of Greater Geelong and the Ocean Grove Community Association to identify safety improvements in this growing a area,” VicRoads south west regional director Mark Koliba said.
Geelong council city services director Guy WilsonBrowne said, “We’re committed to working with VicRoads to identify potential funding sources to install traffic signals at the intersection as well as supporting streetscape, roundabouts and pedestrian upgrades throughout the local road network”.
A GoFundMe page to help with Mr Peace’s recovery has been set up au.gofundme. com/tyler-peace