Elderly driver yet to be interviewed over crash that killed woman, injured two-year-old

A woman has died, and a two-year-old boy and a man have been seriously injured after an elderly driver lost control of her car on a quiet suburban road in Melbourne’s outer east.

Police say the 91-year-old woman lost control of her Toyota Yaris hatchback on Coleman Road, Wantirna South, about 12.20pm on Thursday.

The two-year-old boy remains in the Royal Children’s Hospital in a critical condition, while a 60-year-old man is fighting for life in The Alfred hospital.

A 59-year-old woman died at the scene. Police say all three lived in Wantirna South.

“The 91-year-old female driver of the vehicle was transported to hospital with minor injuries,” officers said.

“She is yet to be interviewed. The investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the collision remains ongoing.”

Earlier, Victoria Police Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said the trio were struck from behind by the car while walking along the footpath.

“We’re thankful that nobody else has been injured because, you know, with the car that seems to have lack of control for around 200 metres where it is fortunate that nobody else has been impacted by it.”

Goldsmith said the trio were walking on the north side of Coleman Road when they were hit by the car. He said it appeared that the hatchback had been travelling along the footpath for 40 or 50 metres before impact.

Vision obtained by The Age appears to show the car involved in the crash.

The CCTV footage from a house on Coleman Road shows a silver hatchback travelling on the north side of the road, with a hubcap believed to be from the front left wheel seen rolling after it.

The footage also shows what appears to be a family walking with a pram in the opposite direction just before the time of the accident. The Age is yet to confirm whether the people in the video were involved in the accident.

The section of Coleman Road where the accident occurred features chicanes intended to slow traffic ahead of a slight bend and slope down toward a children’s playground.

Police said it was not yet clear whether the driver had struck or attempted to avoid the chicanes before mounting the footpath.

“The driver’s a 91-year-old female, and she’s been taken to hospital for assessment and for blood tests,” Goldsmith said.

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith speaking near the scene of the crash.Credit: Eddie Jim

“That driver has then continued with something of a lack of control down Coleman Road. We’re not sure about the speed, that will be the subject of the investigation.

“But it is a downhill section of road, so if there has been a lack of control to some degree, there is a possibility that the car would have picked up speed as it streamed down.”

The car continued for about 200 metres before crossing to the other side of Coleman Road and ploughing through a lightweight steel fence – designed more to stop children playing in the park from running onto the road than to protect them from a car – and into a park bench overlooking a children’s playground, where it became wedged.

The car came to a stop after hitting a park bench, knocking it off its footings.Credit: Eddie Jim

The force of the impact ripped the bench out of its concrete footings and destroyed the front section of the car, but fortunately, nobody was playing in the park at the time of the crash.

A knock at the door

Samuel Chen first heard about the accident on social media, then contacted his parents who live right near the crash site.

“Mum picked up the phone and she told me that they weren’t sure what had happened, but basically the lady who was driving the vehicle knocked on [her] door and asked whether she could use [their] toilet,” he said.

“I think this is right after the incident, and the lady was with one of her close relatives or emergency contact. She came to use the toilet and the emergency response personnel were there, they came in and then they left after a bit.

Emergency services at the scene of the crash in Wantirna South.Credit: Eddie Jim

“[Mum] said she was just bleeding from the leg, but nothing very serious.”

Chen said an incident like this was “really out of the ordinary” for Coleman Road. “There’s a bit of traffic, but people aren’t travelling at crazy speeds, and there are lots of chicanes as well to slow people down.

“We live right next to [the playground] and parents will be waiting sitting on hat bench, so it sees a lot of use. There’s a community centre right next to us and also a tennis club.

“Whenever people are walking by, some of them will stop and if mum and dad are out there gardening they’ll have a chat with the people. It’s really quite tragic to hear what has happened, and yeah, I think it will leave a mark.”

Local resident Jason Grant drove past the scene shortly after the crash and witnessed bystanders assisting an elderly woman from the back of a hatchback, which had crashed into a bench after driving through a park fence.

Others who drove past the scene described bystanders trying to help an elderly woman out of the back of the car wedged against the park bench, before ambulance crews arrived to treat the injured further up the hill.

Coleman Road was closed for several blocks in both directions as crash investigators tried to make sense of the scene, while a stream of dog walkers, joggers and cyclists using a popular track at the back of the playground were stunned to see the destroyed car sitting so close to the park they had come to use.

A damaged fence at the scene of the crash in Wantirna South.Credit: Eddie Jim

They were held back from the scene by police tape tied around a cubby house newly built from branches and overlooking the playground, which also served as a reminder of just how horrific the start to the school holidays had been.

“It’s an absolute tragedy, and unfortunately, we’re facing a horrific month for road trauma,” Goldsmith said.

“We’ve had 14 people lose their lives in seven days. Consider that for the month of July, compared to June, where we lost 12 people for the entire month ... we’ve lost so many lives and had so many life-threatening injuries over the course of last week (and it) is completely horrific and unacceptable.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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