A motor came to rest on the road further south of the ute.
Photo by
Bree Harding
Three teenagers were transported to Melbourne hospitals after their vehicle crashed, coming to rest on its roof, in Kialla late on Thursday, July 3.
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Thousands of motorists on their commute to work and school drop-off were still being diverted into service lanes bordering the Goulburn Valley Hwy near Riverside Plaza the following morning, with the crashed single-cab ute and debris remaining on the highway, as police continued trying to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The road remained diverted until about 3pm on Friday, when it was finally reopened to traffic as normal.
The impact of the crash, which happened at about 11.15pm, knocked a light pole to the ground near the Shell Reddy Express service station.
A motor lay a further 20m south of the ute, in the middle of the southbound lanes.
Police said the Holden ute had been travelling south on the highway when the crash occurred.
While investigations into the crash are continuing, Shepparton police Acting Sergeant Ben Manson said it appeared that “high speed” had been a factor in the collision.
The crashed ute remained at the site on Friday morning.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Nearby resident John Grieve heard the crash and was one of the first on the scene.
“It shook the whole house,” Mr Grieve said.
He ventured outside with a torch to find a confronting scene that had been plunged into darkness by the impact on the power pole.
He said he believed a group of people had been in the southbound vehicle, reporting that two had been thrown several metres from the wreckage, while another was trapped in the cab.
Police said the male driver, and a male and female passenger, were all taken to hospital.
An Ambulance Media spokesperson said a female, aged in her teens, was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition after being treated for upper and lower body injuries.
A male aged in his teens was transported by road to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition after being treated for upper body injuries, according to the spokesperson.
Another male in his teens was flown to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition after being treated for upper and lower body injuries, the spokesperson said.
Debris littered all four lanes of the Goulburn Valley Hwy.
Photo by
Bree Harding
Uprooted and twisted road signs, leaf litter from several young, crushed trees and mangled car parts were strewn across all four lanes of the highway, as commuters using the highway until about 3pm on Friday were diverted into the service lanes.
∎ Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to phone Shepparton police on 5820 5777 or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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