Another car lost control and fell off a cliff on a notorious bend on the outskirts of Walhalla, east of Victoria, just a fortnight after a fatal crash on the same stretch of Walhalla Road.
Key points:
- Another car carrying two people left Walhalla Road just two weeks after a man died and three others were injured in a similar accident.
- Walhalla residents and businesses are once again calling for the installation of barriers on the stretch of road
- Narracan MP Gary Blackwood intends to address turnaround when parliament resumes in August
In the early hours of Sunday morning, emergency services responded to a two-occupant car that slid down the edge of the bend, fell 10 feet and fell into Stringers Creek.
Just two weeks ago to the day, Declan Day, 19, died when four-wheel drive in which he was a passenger passed through the same cliff.
Prior to these incidents, residents say there have been many car incidents passing by the side of this stretch of road and many accidents.
Walhalla resident and Baw Baw Shire Council Mayor Michael Leaney, along with other members of the community, called on the state government to install a road safety barrier at the site in 2017.
Five years later, one person has died and five people have been injured at the site in a fortnight.
In 2017, a 4×4 passed by the curb and its driver said it had stopped before the roadside gave way and fell 10 meters. (Provided by: Michael Leaney)
Leaney expects Regional Roads Victoria to now reconsider a barrier and said the scene of yesterday’s crash looked “almost identical” to that of a fortnight ago.
“The wheel tracks almost match where the previous vehicle went over the edge,” Leaney said.
“If you miss this turn or head to the side of the road, there is no limit.
“This particular stretch of road, especially in the winter, is always wet, it’s always wet, in the shade for three to four months a year.”
Michael Leaney was told that installing barriers was too much of an engineering challenge. (Fixed line)
Mr. Leaney has previously written to Regional Roads Victoria calling for security barriers to be installed.
He said the advice given was that installing barriers was too much of a engineering challenge.
“Because there is no barrier, there is no space between making a very small mistake and the drop is 10 meters,” Leaney said.
In a statement, Gippsland Department of Transportation regional director Beth Liley said, “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the two recent incidents on Walhalla Road.”
“Because these incidents are currently under police investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time,” he said.
Police say the car carrying Declan Day and three other people stopped in the creek bed, under the railroad bridge. (ABC Gippsland: Kerrin Thomas)
Liberal Narracan member Gary Blackwood said the department’s silence and inaction on the issue was eluding responsibility.
“It’s a very steep embankment on Walhalla Road,” he said.
“Clearly, the first accident in which the 19-year-old lost his life was because there was no side railing.
“Similar to the weekend crash, [a] very steep fall from Walhalla road, but no railing “.
He said he planned to address the incidents in parliament when it resumed in August.
“We have to learn from the things that are happening and obviously we have to address this issue,” Blackwood said.
“A deadly victim and potentially three or four deadly victims, we can’t afford to sit back and let nothing happen.”
Local news directly in your inbox
ABC Gippsland will deliver a summary of the week’s news, stories and photos every Tuesday. Register here