‘Poor chap lying on his back’: Horror details emerge after child hurt, woman killed in horror Wantirna South crash

A resident has recounted the devastating moment an out-of-control car struck three people, killing a woman and leaving a man and two-year-old boy seriously injured.

A witness has recounted the devastating moment an out-of-control car struck three people – killing a grandmother and seriously injuring a grandfather and their two-year-old grandchild.

The 91-year-old driver is yetto be interviewed by police as officers work to understand how the horror collision unfolded.

The woman is believed to have lost control of her Toyota Yaris on Coleman Rd in Wantirna South, Melbourne at about 12.20pm on Thursday.

The vehicle struck a man, woman, and child – all believed to be from the same family – before ploughing through a fence.

Flowers lay for the 59-year-old woman killed by an out-of-control car in Wantirna South. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

The 59-year-old woman from Wantirna South died at the scene.

A 60-year-old man – understood to be the woman’s partner – was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries, and a two-year-old boy suffered serious injuries.

It has been reported the man is still fighting for life in hospital, while the child is now in a stable condition, as per Sunrise.

The two adults are reportedly the grandparents of the two-year-old boy, as per The Herald Sun.

The 91-year-old driver was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Resident Heather Webber recalled the moment she saw the man lying on the footpath. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Witness Heather Webber told reporters she “ran straight out” of the house after hearing a “funny, weird sound”.

Outside, she discovered the 60-year-old man lying on the path.

“There he was, the poor chap, lying on his back,” she said, adding she was “first one to see the … gentleman on the path”.

“He was nicely dressed … just a (cardigan), I think, and the bleeding was excessive,” she said.

Ms Webber’s husband called the paramedics “straight away”.

She told reporters she was “very disturbed’ by the crash, and was unable to sleep on Thursday night.

She recalled the young boy “clinging to someone who helped him”.

“There was another lady who picked him up,” she said.

Locals could be seen paying respect to the victims at the scene of the crash, including the Wong family, who lay flowers on the path.

She said the man was bleeding excessively. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Police confirmed on Friday morning that they were yet to interview the driver.

“The investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the collision remains ongoing,” a statement read.

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith earlier told reporters the elderly woman was “terribly shaken” by the event, and while not seriously injured, was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The Wong family lay flowers on the path along Coleman Rd. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Fragments of the smashed car were on the side of the path in Wantirna South. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

He said police were still investigating the collision.

“We’re not sure of the relationship between the people who were injured,” Mr Goldsmith said

“The incident is not believed to be intentional,” police said earlier in a statement.

Police said they were still working to establish the speed of the car at the time of the incident.

“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,” Mr Goldsmith said.

“We don’t have enough information to say that it’s a high-speed crash or that speed is a contributing factor at this stage.”

It is unclear if a medical episode contributed to the incident.

The driver was a 91-year-old woman who police said was “terribly shaken” by the event. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Police said the car struck the trio on a footpath before continuing into a park about 200m away. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Police said the car mounted the footpath for about 40-50m before hitting the pedestrians who were on the path.

“Tragically that vehicle has collided with a couple and a child,” Mr Goldsmith said.

“That driver has then continued with some degree of lack of control down Coleman Rd and has collided with a street sign, and then has ended up in the reserve about 200m from the collision scene.”

The heavily damaged car remains in the park appearing to have crashed into a bench.

“It’s an absolute tragedy,” Mr Goldsmith said.

“We’re thankful that nobody else has been injured.”

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said crash was an “absolute tragedy”. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Police do not believe the crash was intentional. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

The driver was not seriously injured. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

A caller identified as Ann told 3AW about the “horrendous” scene.

“It’s just a suburban street. A car has mounted the footpath … at high speed. There’s four ambulances there, police galore, and all the roads are blocked off. It’s quite horrendous,” Ann said.

“I did not see it, but a neighbour of mine was there. Then the car took off, down the park near the playground, a person ran off, and that’s why the helicopters have been going around.

“The roads are all still blocked off. No one can go down there.”

A woman has died after being hit by a car. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

The crash is the latest in a string of road fatalities in Victoria.

“Unfortunately, we’re facing a horrific month for road trauma,” Mr 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.”

Police are urging anyone with dashcam footage or information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Originally published as ‘Poor chap lying on his back’: Horror details emerge after child hurt, woman killed in horror Wantirna South crash