A 19-year-old Jancourt East P-plater has been charged with three offences by Victoria Police major collision investigation unit detectives following a fatal collision at Naringal East last Thursday, April 18.

Police have been told a Holden Rodeo ute, driven by a 19-year-old Jancourt East man, and a Proton Jumbuck ute, driven by a 62-year-old Warrnambool man, were travelling on Cobden-Warrnambool Road in opposite directions when they collided about 3.30pm.

Witnesses have reported a P-plater was heading east when he pulled out to overtake other vehicles.

The witness alleged he faced with oncoming traffic, the probationary driver swerved back into his correct lane, his tyres caught on the road verge and he over-corrected into the path of the middle-aged man.

The driver and sole occupant of the Proton, a 62-year-old Warrnambool man David 'Dinga' Bell , was taken to hospital with life-threatening-injuries but later died.

The driver of the Holden, a 19-year-old Jancourt East man, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, careless driving and overtaking when unsafe.

He was under police guard in the Warrnambool Base Hospital before being interviewed, charged and bailed to appear before the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on April 24 for a mention hearing.

South-west police have has moved to allay community fears about a section of road on the Cobden-Warrnambool Road.

There have been up to five collisions in a week, many single-vehicle crashes, on a 1500-metre section of the Cobden-Warrnambool Road, between Rollos Road and Bartons Road, at Naringal East.

On Saturday, 5.40pm:

Warrnambool's David John 'Dinga' Bell died as a result of the collision on the Cobden-Warrnambool Road on Thursday afternoon, April 18.

A funeral notice in The Standard on Saturday said the Warrnambool 62-year-old man died as a result of an accident.

"Rest easy big little bro, Fly high little man", the notice announced.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be confirmed www.guyettsfunerals.com.au

On Friday, noon:

The south-west's police chief has moved to allay community fears about a section of road on a main aerial route after a fatal crash.

There have been up to five collisions in the past week, many single-vehicle crashes, on a 1500-metre section of the Cobden-Warrnambool Road, between Rollos Road and Bartons Road, at Naringal East.

About 3.30pm on Thursday there was a collision which resulted in a 62-year-old Warrnambool man later dying in hospital.

Police have been told a Holden Rodeo ute, driven by a 19-year-old Jancourt East man, and a Proton Jumbuck ute, driven by a 62-year-old Warrnambool man, were travelling on Cobden-Warrnambool Road in opposite directions when they collided.

Witnesses have reported a P-plater was heading east when he pulled out to overtake other vehicles.

The witness alleged he faced with oncoming traffic, the probationary driver swerved back into his correct lane, his tyres caught on the road verge and he over-corrected into the path of the middle-aged man.

The driver and sole occupant of the Proton, the 62-year-old Warrnambool man, was taken to Warrnambool Base Hospital with life-threatening-injuries, but later died.

The P-plate driver of the Holden was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries where he remains under police guard.

It was the region's first road fatality this year, compared with five for the same period last year.

Warrnambool police Superintendent Melissa Webbers said the south-west had a shocking 12 months for road trauma last year with 17 lives lost on the region's roads.

"After a terrible year for road trauma last year, we are devastated to see the loss of another life on our roads," she said on Friday, April 19, 2024.

"Every life lost on the road is preventable, and we are doing all we can to reduce road trauma.

"We do this every day through enforcement, as well as through statewide and targeted operations during high-risk periods and at high-risk locations."

The Superintendent said everyone had a role to play in road safety.

"It is important that we drive to the conditions, expect the unexpected and avoid distractions," Ms Webbers said.

"Victoria Police continues to work closely with its road safety partners to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury collisions.

"More than half of lives lost on our roads are in country areas.

"The impact of road trauma is harrowing, every life lost has impact on families, loved ones and community, as well as for witnesses and first responders."

Superintendent Webbers said the road conditions was always considered by investigators.

"The condition of the road is certainly a factor that is looked at in every fatal collision - whether they occur on rural or metro roads," she said.

"However, we are not seeing the conditions of the roads playing out in deaths.

"Notwithstanding this recent tragedy, that is currently under investigation, intelligence shows that the majority of collisions in Warrnambool last year were caused by minor forms of non-compliance, rather than extreme driving behaviour.

"Meaning that simple mistakes behind the wheel are leading to catastrophic consequences."

The State Emergency Service is concerned about the mental health of its volunteers after repeatedly being called out to collisions along a dangerous stretch of the Cobden-Warrnambool Road.

South-west operations manager Steve McDowell said he had concern for his service's volunteers as well as other first responders.

"We certainly have concerns because those collisions seem to be happening continuously," he said.

"Our members are going out to these collisions, repeatedly."

Mr McDowell implored drivers to take care, slow down and drive to the conditions, especially in wet weather.

There have been five accidents on the section of the Cobden-Warrnambool Road in the area involving Rollos Road and Bartons Road.

"We certainly have concerns about that area but there's wet weather rolling in across the south-west region. Winter is fast approaching and we want everyone on the roads to take care," he said.

"Police are investigating the latest collision, we (the SES) don't know the cause of this collision and we'll let the police do their job."

On Friday at 9am:

A 62-year-old Warrnambool man has died in hospital after being involved in a collision on the Cobden-Warrnambool Road on Thursday afternoon, April 18.

Victoria Police major collision investigation unit detectives are investigating following the collision at Naringal East.

Officers attended at and examined the scene, between Rollos Road and Bartons Road, last night aided by State Emergency Service lighting.

Police have been told a Holden Rodeo ute and a Proton Jumbuck ute were travelling on Cobden-Warrnambool Road in opposite directions when they collided about 3.30pm.

The driver and sole occupant of the Proton, a 62-year-old Warrnambool man, was taken to Warrnambool Base Hospital with life-threatening-injuries but later died.

The driver of the Holden, a 19-year-old Jancourt East man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries where he remains under police guard.

It's the first fatal road accident in the south-west this year, after 17 deaths on south-west roads last year.

It's understood there have been four collisions on the Cobden-Warrnambool Road near the intersections of Rollos Road and Bartons Road since last Friday morning.

The circumstances surrounding the most recent collision are yet to be established and an investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, with dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

For the current provisional lives lost tally please see https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety-0.

On Friday, 7.22am:

A man has died following a collision in Naringal East on Thursday afternoon, April 18.

Police were told a car travelling on Cobden-Warrnambool Road collided with another vehicle approaching in the opposite direction about 3.30pm.

The driver and sole occupant of one of the vehicles was taken to hospital with life-threatening-injuries, but later died.

The driver of the second vehicle was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is assisting police with their inquiries.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be established and an investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, with dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

It's the first fatal road accident in the south-west this year, after 17 deaths on south-west roads last year.

It's understood there have been four collisions on the Cobden-Warrnambool Road near the intersections of Rollos Road and Bartons Road since last Friday morning.

More to come.

On Thursday: Emergency services have been called to a collision on the Cobden-Warrnambool Road near Naringal on Thursday, April 16, 2024.

Ambulance Victoria said it was called to the Naringal East incident about 3.30pm.

One person was taken by road to Warrnambool Base Hospital.

A spokesman said the advanced life support (ALS) paramedics and mobile intensive care ambulance (MICA) paramedics were on scene assessing another person.

The collision happened on the corner of Bartons Road and the Cobden-Warrnambool Road.

It is about three kilometres from an earlier accident where a truck rolled over about 500 metres east of the intersection with Rollos Road on the Cobden-Warrnambool Road.