Grandfather dies two days after footpath crash that killed his wife

A 60-year-old grandfather hit by an out-of-control car alongside his wife and two-year-old grandson in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs on Thursday has died from his injuries.

The Wantirna South man suffered life-threatening injuries when a vehicle mounted a footpath in Coleman Road and struck the trio around 12.20pm on July 10.

Police said he died in hospital on Saturday evening.

A 59-year-old woman died at the scene on Thursday while the two-year-old boy, who was also struck from behind, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The older couple are the grandparents of the young boy involved. Police say all three were local to Wantirna South.

The 91-year-old driver of the vehicle was transported to hospital with minor injuries, and she is yet to be interviewed by police.

On Thursday, Victoria Police Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said that an investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash remained ongoing.

Goldsmith said it appeared that the silver hatchback had been travelling along the footpath for 40 or 50 metres before impact.

The Toyota Yaris then continued for about 200 metres before ploughing through a lightweight steel fence and into a park bench overlooking a children’s playground.

“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 on Thursday afternoon.

“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.”

Vision obtained by The Age shows what is believed to be the car involved in the crash.

CCTV footage from a house on Coleman Road shows a silver car 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.

Tracey Jean told The Age on Friday that she raced to the scene after hearing a loud a bang, and tended to the two-year-old boy.

“I walked to the corner and saw the two people on the ground and a little boy who had grazes all over his little face,” she said.

“And I just went for the little boy and held him, and I had to get in the ambulance with him because he wouldn’t let go of me.”

Jean had to notify emergency services that the two-year-old was also involved in the crash and needed medical attention.

Tracey Jean cared for an injured two-year-old boy after he and his grandparents were hit by the vehicle.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

“He just kept saying, ‘car, car, car’, and then he wrapped his arms around my neck and just wouldn’t let me go,” she said.

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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