A VICTORIAN male driver and his female passenger are “lucky to be alive” after the car they were travelling in was involved in a head-on crash with a truck on the Riddoch Highway yesterday.
The pair were travelling towards Mount Gambier from Port MacDonnell when their Toyota hatchback crossed onto the incorrect side of the highway and crashed into a truck.
Country Fire Service crews, Mount Gambier State Emergency Service, police and paramedics attended the scene at around 10am and worked to free the 24-year-old male driver from the wreckage.
Incredibly, the man and a 24-year-old female passenger only received minor injuries and were taken to Mount Gambier Hospital by ambulance for treatment.
Mount Gambier Police highway patrol Senior Constable Paul Griffiths said it was very fortunate the crash did not result in another fatality on South Australian roads.
“With an alarming yearly road toll, we are fortunate in the Limestone Coast that we haven’t had the volume of fatal crashes the rest of the state has experienced,” Snr Cst Griffiths said.
“Police can state, given the speed at impact and damage caused to both vehicles, that we are astonished that the injuries in this crash were not more serious.”
Mount Gambier CFS operations captain Bob Davis said he attended the crash to assist with traffic control.
“I was there directing traffic and didn’t get involved too much, however it sounds like they are lucky to still be here,” Mr Davis said.
Snr Cst Griffiths said police were investigating a number of possible reasons the car veered onto the wrong side of the road.
“The accident is being investigated by members from the Limestone Coast Highway Patrol Unit,” Snr Cst Griffiths said.
“Speed was not considered a factor.”
The crash comes weeks after the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure announced the speed limit would be reduced from 110kph to 100kph on the stretch of road from Mount Gambier to Port Macdonnell.
The decision sparked outrage among civic leaders who claimed the government should be focusing on improving roads rather than reducing speed limits.
Snr Con Griffiths’ message for drivers was that they need to be aware of the conditions and drive accordingly.
“People need to be aware of not only rain and fog, but also wind as it can be a contributor to road crashes,” Snr Cst Griffiths said.
“Particularly with the long weekend approaching and a higher volume of cars expected to travel through the region from Adelaide to Melbourne, we ask people to drive safely.”
He said the Limestone Coast highway patrol would have a highly visible presence on the roads this weekend.
“We will be out in force conducting driver screening tests and speed detecting,” Snr Cst Griffiths said.
“I am more than happy to not have to deal with anyone this weekend, but if you choose to speed, you will come into contact with us.”
