Warrnambool Highway Patrol Unit police officers will prepare a report for the Victorian coroner after the horrific head-on accident near Lismore on Sunday.
POLICE are trying to work out the circumstances surrounding a weekend smash on the Hamilton Highway that left two people dead.
Warrnambool Highway Patrol Unit police officers will prepare a report for the Victorian coroner after the horrific head-on accident near Lismore on Sunday.
The drivers, a 67-year-old woman who owned a property at Derrinallum and a 52-year-old man from Camperdown in New South Wales, were killed when their cars collided at Berrybank, west of Lismore, at 4.40pm Sunday.
A male passenger in his 40s, also from NSW, was flown to Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital in a serious but stable condition with a broken arm and pelvic injuries.
It is understood the injured man is the brother of a Port Fairy woman. He had been visiting the area for a family celebration.
Inspector Kevin Archer, of Warrnambool police, said Warrnambool Highway Patrol Unit officers would prepare a report for the coroner.
The collision between the silver Mercedes-Benz sedan, which was heading west and driven by the woman, and the white Ford Falcon travelling east driven by the man, happened on the crest of a hill along the Hamilton Highway, east of Collins Lane just before the Gnarkeet Chain of Ponds bridge.
Both drivers died at the scene.
Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the Warrnambool police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
Meanwhile, Hamilton Highway Patrol police officers are expecting to speak to a Melbourne man this week after a pursuit reached speeds of 180km/h on Saturday evening.
Hamilton unit officer-in-charge Sergeant Scott Williams said a Holden Commodore was detected speeding west along the Glenelg Highway near Wannon about 6.30pm Saturday.
He said the highway patrol officer executed a U-turn after checking the speed of the vehicle at 116km/h in the 100km/h zone.
Sergeant Williams said the police officer had lights and sirens operating but the other driver refused to pull over and accelerated, starting a pursuit.
“We allege the Holden Ccommodore reached a speed of 180km/h and the highway patrol officer terminated the pursuit due to the extreme speed of the offending driver as he approached Coleraine,” he said.
“There was a police member on duty in Coleraine but the offending driver must have turned off before reaching the town. We have identified the driver but are yet to speak to the 38-year-old from Melbourne.”
Sergeant Williams said it was expected that the driver would be interviewed this week and was likely to be charged with offences including evading police and driving in a dangerous manner.
“It was an extremely serious example of poor driving and motorists need to be aware that if they are detected breaking the law police officers will do everything possible to ensure offenders are prosecuted,” he said.
