Two cars landed on their roofs in long grass next to the Princes Highway near Allansford after a collision on Tuesday.
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Acting Sergeant Ben Timpson, of the Warrnambool police, said the HEMS 4 rescue helicopter was called so one of the drivers could be flown to Melbourne, but it was unable to land because of the lightning strikes in the area.
Both drivers – two men in their 40s – were taken to Warrnambool Base Hospital.
Ambulance Victoria said one driver suffered serious injuries to his upper body, while the second man had back injuries.
Traffic was diverted for almost two hours with both east-bound lanes of the highway closed while police conducted their investigation.
Acting Sergeant Timpson said both vehicles were travelling towards Allansford when the accident happened about 10.45am on the dual section of highway in a 100km/h zone between Rowans Lane and Jubilee Park Road. One car landed on a fence on the side of the road and the second car landed about 100 meters away.
“Inquiries are still ongoing...but two cars have rolled over on to their roof,” Acting Sergeant Timpson said.
“They’ve ended up onto the side of the road in the nature strip…and into a farmer’s front paddock,
“The two male drivers have been taken to hospital and potentially being transported to Melbourne by air (ambulance).”
SES crews helped stabilise one of the upturned cars so the driver could be rescued. The CFA aerial tanker was used to take photos of the scene.