THURSDAY 10am: The driver of the car involved in Wednesday’s head-on collision at Cooriemungle remains in a critical condition at Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital.
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The man was flown to the hospital after the car he was driving crossed to the wrong side of Princetown Road, on a sweeping bend, and collided with a four-wheel drive.
The female passanger in the car sustained critical injuries and died at the scene.
Police are still investigating and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
UPDATE THURSDAY:
DETECTIVES are trying to piece together the circumstances of a head-on smash near Cooriemungle that left one woman dead and a man fighting for life.
Major collision investigation unit members were confronted with a horrifying sight when they arrived at the scene on Wednesday night, with one car almost unrecognisable and a second resting on its side.
Princetown Road, between Great Ocean Road and Cooriemungle Road, was closed for several hours as detectives combed the area for evidence.
Police believe two tourists from Asia were travelling in a Hyundai on Princetown Road after 1pm when they veered to the wrong side on a sweeping bend.
They collided head-on with a grey four-wheel drive being driven by a local man that came to rest on the driver’s side.
Two air ambulance helicopters, one from Warrnambool and the other from Bendigo, landed in a paddock beside the road.
Port Campbell sergeant David Banks said the male driver of the Hyundai received life-threatening injuries and was flown to Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital.
He said the female passenger received critical injuries and died. She was yet to be identified.
The driver of the four-wheel drive miraculously walked away after ambulance officers treated him for minor injuries.
The woman’s death is the first on south-west roads for 2016, and takes the Victorian road toll to 16
UPDATE 4.35pm: Police expect Princetown Road, between Great Ocean Road and Cooriemungle Road, will be closed for several hours.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Victoria Police said 14 lives had been lost in road crashes in 2016, compared to 16 at the same time the previous year.
UPDATE 4.10pm: The Major Collision Investigation Unit is en route to a crash scene south of Simpson, where one person is confirmed dead.
Police said it appeared a Hyundai had crossed to the wrong side of the road and hit a four-wheel drive head-on.
A female passenger of the Hyundai has died and is yet to be formally identified. An air ambulance has taken a man to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the four-wheel drive, a local man and the single occupant of the vehicle, received minor injuries after his vehicle came to rest on the driver’s side.
Paramedics treated the man at the scene. He has since returned home.
UPDATE 4pm: One person has died after the crash near Simpson this afternoon.
Two air ambulances, the HEMS-3 and HEMS-4, have left the scene.
UPDATE 3.35pm: Two Asian tourists are fighting for their lives after a head-on collision with a local vehicle south of Simpson.
It is understood the tourists’ vehicle was on the wrong side of the road when the accident occurred.
A local man escaped from his vehicle, which came to rest on its side.
Both tourists were trapped.
An air ambulance is on the ground near the accident scene and CPR is being performed on the passenger.
Both tourists have sustained life-threatening injuries.
The Victoria Police major collisions unit officers are en route.
Police from Port Campbell, Camperdown, Lavers Hill and Warrnambool are in attendance along with other emergency services including State Emergency Service.
The road is expected to be blocked for some time while the circumstances of the accident are investigated.
EARLIER: Emergency services are working to free two people trapped in their vehicle after a crash near Cooriemungle.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said two vehicles collided head-on along Princetown Road near the intersection with The Boulevarde, about halfway between Simpson and Princetown around 1.10pm on Wednesday.
The spokeswoman said a man and woman had serious injuries. No details were available on the occupants of the second vehicle, she said.
Road closures are in place but could not be confirmed.
It is understood the accident occurred on a sharp bend, with Princetown Road closed at the Great Ocean Road and Cooriemungle Road.
More to come.