A BOORCAN motorcyclist was in a critical condition at a Melbourne hospital last night after a horrific crash north-west of Cobden.
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The 35-year-old man sustained life-threatening injuries after the motorcycle he was riding crashed into a barrier along the Cobden-Terang Road at Cobrico on Sunday evening.
His pillion passenger, a 22-year-old Bookaar man, sustained only minor injuries in the 8.20pm crash, which blocked traffic along the thoroughfare for several hours.
Both men were taken by road ambulance to Warrnambool Base Hospital. The Boorcan man was later transported by air ambulance to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition early yesterday morning.
The Bookaar man was treated at Warrnambool Base and went home.
Senior Constable Greg Kew said the Sunday evening crash was the latest in a succession of horrific collisions on Western District roads during the past week.
He said sun glare did not appear to be a factor in the Cobrico crash.
“The motorcyclist was travelling towards Cobden when the bike failed to negotiate a slight bend in the road,” Senior Constable Kew said.
“He lost control of the bike and collided with the railing on the other side of the road.
“The bike split in half and the rider was flung about 20 metres along the bitumen.
“The passenger remained on the bike and only sustained a cut finger. Both were wearing helmets.”
The Cobrico crash comes only days after an elderly couple were killed when two cars collided near Lismore.
In the same weekend, 13 people were involved in a three-car pile up along Warrnambool’s Raglan Parade. Eight of the passengers were children, who escaped with minor injuries.
“So many of the crashes we have to attend are due to basic human error,” Senior Constable Kew said.
“When a kangaroo jumps out in front of a car, that can be avoided but it’s rare.
“Usually it’s drivers not paying attention to the road, not having enough sleep, speeding, drinking, driving too late at night. All of that can and should be avoided.”
Premier Denis Napthine said while Victoria was headed towards its lowest annual road toll on record, unnecessary road deaths were still occurring statewide.
“We know that the coming days between now and the weekend after new year represent the most dangerous period on our roads because there are hundreds of thousands of people travelling to family functions and other festivities,” he said.
Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said police officers would be out in force over the next 11 days.
Meanwhile, traffic on the Koroit-Penshurst Road was diverted last night after two cars collided head-on east of Koroit.
Two people received minor injuries and were taken to hospital by ambulance.
The accident happened about 200 metres west of Officers Lane.