A WARRNAMBOOL driver who survived a horror crash along the Hopkins Highway has warned the condition of the major road will lead to a fatality.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
David Beardsley, 65, said the rough road surface near Ballangeich contributed to his new caravan becoming uncoupled from his four-wheel-drive `on Tuesday morning when he was travelling at 95km/h.
"The caravan broke away, it was swaying and finished up rolled on its side. If I had hit the bakes it would have jackknifed," he said.
"It's a shocking road. I was thinking 'I've got a few problems here'. I thought I was gone for a second. Drivers are at serious risk."
In blunt terms Mr Beardsley said his new $65,000 caravan was in a state of disrepair.
"It's just a wreck," he added after his initial assessment.
"Just about the only things left is the wheels. It had to be loaded on a tray."
Mr Beardsley said he was a bit sore and attended the Warrnambool Base Hospital to be assessed and treated after the accident.
"I went to hospital and got checked out. Everything is all right. I’ve got some bumps and bruises," he said.
"Fortunately there were two blokes following me and they saw what happened."
Mr Beardsley said he bought the caravan last year and was taking it to Ballarat to get serviced when the accident happened about 9.30am Tuesday.
The caravan become uncoupled but was held to his Nissan Navara utility by chains.
It fishtailed and eventually came to rest with the back of the ute about a metre off the ground.
The Hopkins Higjhway was blocked for about two hours while the accident scene was cleared.
Mr Beardsley said the caravan fully insured and would buy another one.
"I've done a bit of caravaning and was planning on doing a lot more. I didn’t even have a chance to break in the bed," he said.
"I went to Darwin this year. It’s nice to get away during the winter months. I've fortunately got a lend of a car now and I'll get it all sorted out in the next few days," he said.
Police Senior Constable Paul Avery said it was timely to remind all drivers to ensure chains were connected when they were towing.
"In this accident the chains have prevented the caravan coming off and potentially travelling into the path of another vehicle," he said.
