Deadly crash inferno leaves devastation in its wake

In the region’s worst road accident, a truck and a car carrying five young people collided and burst into flames north of Penshurst on Saturday afternoon.

Terang truck driver Steven Elford, 46, and five former Emmanuel College students aged in their early 20s all died — Rebecca McKenzie, Sean Doran, Tim Cooper and twin sisters Caroline and Olivia Wright.

Olivia Wright was flown by air ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital after being cut from the wreckage. She was placed in an induced coma after suffering serious head, pelvic and leg injuries, but a close family member last night confirmed that she had died.

Police said the other five victims were killed instantly.

The accident happened about 12.20pm on Saturday when a truck carting gravel travelling east on Hamilton-Chatsworth Road collided with the youngsters’ station wagon heading north to the Dunkeld races on Blackwood-Dunkeld Road.

Southern Grampians police inspector Don Downes was one of the first on the accident scene and said it was the worst he had come across in 35 years as an officer.

“It was just surreal,” he said. “We had some seasoned officers there who were taken aback by what we came across.

“It was just tragic and very traumatic.

“Warrnambool is a tight-knit community. This accident will impact on a lot of people.

“These were people just going about their business on a bright sunny Saturday afternoon and five people have been killed in an instant.”

Inspector Downes said the circumstances reinforced the police road safety messages.

“It’s very, very traumatic,” he said.

“Our hearts go out to the victims’ family and friends.

“Police do what we can but it is the responsibility of every driver to obey the road rules and concentrate.

“A momentary lapse can have tragic results.

“Myself and other police members who attended the scene have children the same age. That really hit home on a personal level.

“I just feel enormous sympathy for the family and friends of all those involved.”

A veteran Country Fire Authority (CFA) member described the crash aftermath as one of the most horrific scenes he had encountered.

District five duty officer Henry Barton yesterday praised the work of about 14 CFA volunteers from the Penshurst and Woodhouse brigades who were called to the collision.

“Some of those members are seasoned firefighters. It was a shock to everyone that so much carnage can happen,” Mr Barton said yesterday.

“Everyone who was there had children and grandchildren and that sort of thing and to see young lives taken in that sort of an instance was just devastating to everyone.”

CFA volunteers spent about 20 minutes extinguishing the two burning vehicles and kept a close eye on the truck for some time afterwards.

“With trucks like that in a vehicle accident they’re hard to extinguish,” Mr Barton said.

“We were there for some time doing that and also assisting the SES and the police with what they were doing.”

Mr Barton, who has been with the Country Fire Authority for 35 years, said a critical incident stress management team would meet firefighters who spent time at the collision scene.

A group discussion will be followed by one-on-one support for those in need.

“All our brigades do a minimum of training with responding to motor vehicle accidents,” Mr Barton said yesterday. “It’s like anything — you train for it but hope to heck you never have to actually be a part of those sorts of scenes.”

. Those suffering the effects of road trauma are urged to contact the Road Trauma Support Team Victoria on 1300 367 797.