Twins in fatal collision
A Drouin man died in a horrific collision that his twin brother survived at Bunyip on Friday night.
Mark Lewis, 22, died in the collision when his utility plunged down a seven metre embankment on Evans Rd. His twin brother Dale survived the crash after freeing himself and calling emergency services.
It took six hours for emergency services to locate Mark in the river where the utility he was driving came to rest.
Police said the two men were travelling along Evans Rd when it appears Mark lost control of his utility before it plunged down a seven metre embankment, crashing into the river.
Police reported the collision occurred just before 9.30pm.
On police arrival they located the utility and Dale, who had minor injuries, but Mark was unable to be located.
The vehicle had slid into the river and after a lengthy recovery effort, Mark’s body was found just after 4am on Saturday morning.
State Emergency Service volunteers launched a rescue boat to sweep the river. It was reported that fast currents made the utility almost impossible to budge, and a crane was brought in to extract the utility.
Mark attended Drouin Secondary College and completed an apprenticeship as a mechanic with GlenMac at Pakenham earlier this year.
The fatal collision prompted calls from community members who took to social media to criticise the road’s condition.
Evans Rd is a gravel road with a 100 km/hour speed limit.
Katie Smith wrote on social media that she had emailed Cardinia Shire several times about installing barriers along the section of road.
“The road and river edge are less than a metre apart with a massive drop into a flowing deep river.
“It’s so bloody dangerous…just last Wednesday I said it will take a death for this council to put barriers up,” she said.
Ceri Jostlear suggested the speed limit needed to be lower on the section of road, particularly given it was a gravel road.
Police are continuing investigations into the cause of the fatal collision.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.