A high price to pay

THE collateral damage is significant when somebody dies on our roads.

The death on its own is distressing enough — a lost life that could have made an impact on the world and many contributions to society. But factor in other people who might have been involved in the accident — witnesses, emergency workers, family and friends, and that death leaves a lasting effect on many lives.

Such was the case yesterday when a 23-year-old Highton man died on Portarlington Rd near Moolap.

Police and emergency services were at the scene for hours trying to piece together the details of the accident, while Portarlington Rd was closed to traffic for most of the day. Somewhere in Highton, family and friends are mourning the loss of a life taken too soon.

The pedestrian was struck on the side of the 100km/h double lane highway, not far from where high school student Lachlan MacKinnon was hit by a car while crossing the highway to catch his school bus in 2016.

Reporters and photographers who attended the scene of yesterday’s accident were reminded of the traumatic 2016 event, which saw the teenager in intensive care for 24 days and sparked public anger at the safety of the road.

It also prompted a State Government pledge to install traffic lights at the intersection of the highway and Melaluka Rd to help prevent future pedestrian accidents in the area.

Those traffic lights have stood built — but not switched on — for months now, with VicRoads, Powercor and local MP Lisa Neville all deflecting blame for the delay.

While the details of yesterday’s fatality are still under investigation and there is no reason to believe the Melaluka intersection traffic lights could have saved this man’s life, the fact that a similar accident resulted in a death less than 2km away should be enough to remind all involved of the deadly nature of this stretch of road.

Coincidently, the traffic lights now look set to be switched on on Monday. It’s about time.