Police are pleading for drivers not to take risks on the road after a spike in road trauma over the past 12 months.
The plea comes following a four-car pile up on the Calder Freeway at Macedon last Wednesday, which police said had the potential to result in multiple fatalities.
A driver had stopped to assist an injured kangaroo spotted in the centre median strip of the freeway about 11.15am, but stopped in the fast lane leaving the car there stationary.
A second vehicle stopped in the emergency lane to assist, with three adults leaving the vehicle and a seven-year-old boy on board.
A third vehicle avoided the car stopped in the fast lane by moving into the left lane, but a truck behind that vehicle collided with the car in the fast lane, bounced into the third car and then struck the car in the emergency lane.
The boy in the stationary vehicle received minor injuries and was treated in hospital and released later that day.
A male driver also received minor injuries and was treated at the scene. No one else was injured.
Acting Sergeant Dwayne Sharam of the Macedon Ranges Highway Patrol said the incident had the potential to be a very serious collision resulting in multiple fatalities.
“I’d encourage all drivers where possible to remain in their vehicles and not walk around on the freeway,” Sgt Sharam said.
“We want to remind drivers that these collisions are not inevitable, they’re preventable.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to do their part to improve road safety, whether it be road users or police enforcing road rules.”
In another serious accident last Friday, two cars collided head-on at speed on Burke and Wills Track at Glenhope about 10.45am.
Both drivers were airlifted to hospital in a serious condition, one was a 61-year-old woman from Kyneton and the other a 35-year-old woman from Canberra.
A 29-year-old Woodend man also sustained life-threatening injuries when his motorcycle collided with a pole in High Street Woodend on Saturday.
He was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital.
Sgt Sharam said police had identified several issues of concern in recent months, including motorcyclists taking risks and drivers speeding or driving impaired.
“We will be actively enforcing the road rules and engaging with the local community to target safety issues in our region,” he said.
“It’s about active enforcement as an educational tool and intelligence-based policing to identify the areas that are giving us the most trouble.”
