Farmer dies in car smash

A DARTMOOR district farmer, 51, died early yesterday after losing control of his car and hitting a tree near his home town of Mumbannar.Leading Senior Constable Terry Manley, of Heywood police, said the man who died had been a good friend of his for 40 years."I knew him for 30 or 40 years. He was a real good mate," he said."I got a call-out about 1.30am. He swerved to miss something on the gravel road and braked. His vehicle hit a tree and overturned. It was a big shock."Leading Senior Constable Manley said the farmer had a property in Mumbannar, which is about 10 kilometres west of Dartmoor, on the Princes Highway. The farmer died at the accident scene on Henkes Road.The accident is believed to have happened between 11pm Monday and 1.30am yesterday.Police are preparing a report for the coroner and officers from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are expected to visit the scene today.