Barriers needed to prevent cliff plunge
A vehicle that plunged 40 metres down a cliff face at Walhalla late Friday night has prompted a call from locals to install safety barriers along the road.
Walhalla Goldfields Railway has called for safety railing to be installed on the bend.
WGR president Michael Leaney said Friday night’s accident was not the first at that location.
Mr Leaney said if a car was to crash onto a train on the below railway tracks, it could be catastrophic.
Police reported the single vehicle collision occurred late Friday night on Walhalla Rd.
Police said it appeared the 21-year-old driver of the four wheel drive vehicle fell asleep and failed to negotiate a sharp bend in the road, just out of the Walhalla township.
Police said the vehicle rolled 40 metres down the cliff into the creek bed.
Police said the driver was able to telephone a friend to say he was trapped in his vehicle.
CFA, SES, ambulance and police attended at the scene to free the trapped man.
The Berwick man was transferred to the Alfred Hospital and has since been discharged.
Mr Leaney said the location of the accident was the only place where the Walhalla Goldfields Railway tracks crossed onto the road side of Stringers Creek Gorge.
He said in both accidents vehicles had only missed the railway’s number two bridge by metres and the railway tracks.
“Had a vehicle left the road on an operating day there is the potential for a car to crash into a train passing in the gorge below.
“If a car was to fall onto a train the outcome would be catastrophic.
“The Walhalla Rd is the responsibility of VicRoads and while there has been some safety barriers installed elsewhere on the Walhalla Rd, they are at locations that do not have sheer drops to the railway or are on the inside verge.
“Requests have been made to install a safety rail at this location in the past but these requests have been rejected due to the difficulty of installation and the cost,” he said.
Mr Leaney said police supported installation of a safety rail.