Coronial report into Bellarine Highway crash which killed Frank Baker

A coronial report into a fatal smash on the Bellarine Highway has revealed a stretch of the road was in poor condition and had not been resurfaced since 2010.

Frank Baker, 77, died after a truck lost control and collided with his van in May 2023. Picture: 7News

Poor road conditions and wet weather led to the death of an elderly Belmont man on a notorious stretch of a Geelong highway, a coronial investigation has revealed.

But it’s unclear when the Transport Department plans to fix the road’s surface.

Frank Baker, 77, died when a truck travelling on the Bellarine Highway in Wallington lost control, crossed the median strip and slammed into his silver van on May 3, 2023.

A coroner’s report stated “poor road conditions” and recent wet weather were contributing factors in the crash.

It stated the truck was travelling 80-90km/h when it lost control and collided with Mr Baker’s van at 40km/h.

Detective Sergeant Jenelle Hardiman conducted multiple skid tests on the road and found the friction was “well below what would typically be expected for a major highway”.

Police at scene of the crash which claimed Frank Baker’s life in May 2023. Picture: Alan Barber

“She noted that poor road conditions are more likely to affect vehicle stability in wet conditions and at higher travelling speeds,” the report read.

Detective Senior Constable Melanie Macfarlane contacted the department as part of the coronial investigation about the stretch of road as part of the coronial investigation and it was unclear when it had been resurfaced.

Records showed the road had not been resurfaced since 2010.

Following Mr Baker’s death warning signs and safety barriers were installed in May 2023.

The highway’s resurfacing was deemed a “high priority” for the department in the 2023-24 financial year however it could not be confirmed when the work would take place.

Deputy State Coroner Paresa Antoniadis Spanos recommended the department to immediately prioritise the resurfacing before this year’s winter to “avoid another prolonged period of hazardous road conditions ... particularly in the wet.”

Department of Transport and Planning executive director for Barwon Southwest and Grampians, Michael Bailey, said pavement repairs at the location would be completed soon.

The report stated there had been multiple crashes in the area since 2016.

East Geelong woman Eloise Purcell was involved in a serious crash in March 2022 in almost the same spot as the collision which claimed Mr Baker’s life.

A truck lost control, crossed over the median strip and slammed head-on into Ms Purcell’s car.

She spent two weeks at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and a further six weeks at the Epworth Hospital in Waurn Ponds.

She broke her back in three places, her right hip and leg, both her feet and her lungs collapsed.

In the report, Detective Sergeant Hardiman stated the vehicles in both accidents lost control at “the same location”.

“Both vehicles had rotated clockwise and travelled essentially the same path, crossing the median before impacting another vehicle in the eastbound lanes,” the report stated.

Originally published as Coronial report into Bellarine Highway crash which killed Frank Baker