PEDESTRIAN TRAGEDY
ACCIDENT BAFFLES POLICE
A YOUNG man has died after being hit by a vehicle near a Moolap bus stop.
Emergency services were called to Portarlington Rd at Whitehorse Rd after reports a male had been struck on the 100km/h stretch of road, about 10am yesterday.
Senior Constable Adam Clay said the 26-year-old Highton man died at the scene.
“The local truck driver, he stopped to assist,” SenConstable Clay said.
“Our investigations are ongoing and if anyone did happen to see anything they should contact Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000) or the Geelong Highway Patrol (5247 3500).”
The road was closed for more than five hours with police working to determine how the fatal accident, near a bus stop, happened.
Neighbours said pedestrians were rare in the area.
“My girls used to go to school and crossed that road,” one man said. “Other than that there are never really pedestrians here.”
Traffic lights at a nearby notorious intersection are to be turned on Monday, as key stakeholders dodge responsibility for a two-month delay.
The $1.2 million safety upgrade to the intersection at the Melaluka-Portarlington roads intersection was announced last year after student Lachlan MacKinnon was struck by a car in 2016 while trying to cross the road to catch a school bus.
The incident left the teenager in intensive care for 24 days and sparked a public outcry over the safety of the road.
When questioned in January, VicRoads confirmed the installation was on schedule and “expected to be operational by the end of February”.
Bellarine MP Lisa Neville backed VicRoads when questioned about the delay yesterday, putting responsibility back on state power supplier Powercor.
“I pushed for these traffic lights following the tragic accident with a student at the Melaluka intersection in 2016,” Ms Neville said. “VicRoads have completed their part of the installation and we have been pushing Powercor to connect the lights.”
However, a Powercor spokeswoman said the company was awaiting plans from an external contractor engaged by VicRoads.
“Before Powercor can connect the traffic signals and lighting, the contractor must provide detailed ‘as-built’ plans showing where the assets have been installed and then request a ‘final audit’ to confirm that everything has been built to Powercor standards,” she said.
“Powercor is currently awaiting the ‘as-built’ plans.”
VicRoads Southwest regional director Mark Koliba said last month the organisation was working with Powercor to finalise a switch on date.
“We know there has been a delay and appreciate the community’s patience while these final works are completed,” Mr Koliba said.