Urgent safety review demanded for Wantirna South intersection after child's death
Residents living near a deadly Melbourne intersection are calling for an urgent safety upgrade after the tragic death of an 11-year-old girl in a horror collision that also left a little boy with serious injuries.
A deadly Melbourne intersection where an 11-year-old girl was killed in a horror collision is at the centre of a fight for urgent safety upgrades as locals fear it’s only a matter of time before another fatal accident.
Wantirna South residents are signing a petition — with 780 signatures as of Friday — demanding a review of the High Street and Wallace roads intersection after an 11-year-old girl died following a car crash on October 23.
A four-year-old boy was also left with serious injuries following the collision.
The cause of the incident is still being investigated.
Wantirna South resident Krishan Khera created the petition, calling for a “comprehensive safety review”
“As a regular user of this route, I find the intersection extremely hazardous, particularly when making right turns and U-turns onto or from High St,” he said.
The petition calls for the review to consider reducing the speeding limit from 80km/h to 60km/h and whether traffic lights need to be installed.
“This section connects to major arterial roads and serves two nearby schools, making a lower speed limit crucial for protecting all road users,” Mr Khera said.
Parents from the Holy Trinity Primary School, Riddell Rd Kindergarten, Wantirna Good Start Early Learning Centre and St Mary’s College for the Deaf all access the intersection during the school run.
Holy Trinity Primary School mum Alice said cars regularly “fly down” High Street Rd.
“It is so dangerous, especially when kids are walking to and from school, with all these cars racing by or making sudden turns to get across the intersection,” she said.
“I have seen multiple minor crashes or near misses which could all be avoided.
“A set of lights would be a no-brainer to me.”
Rowville state Liberal MP Kim Wells joined the calls for an urgent review and raised the issue in the Victorian parliament in November.
Mr Wells said it was “not an unreasonable request” by residents for a speed limit reduction and traffic lights.
“The community deserves to be safe, their children deserve to be safe” he said.
“I call on the minister to heed the warning of Wantirna South residents, as per their petition, to ensure an urgent review is undertaken and implement these lifesaving road measures immediately before another tragedy occurs.”
A Department of Transport and Planning spokeswoman said the department’s thoughts were with those impacted by the tragic crash, but did not answer questions on whether the department had any plans to review the intersection or add any additional safety measures.
High Street Rd is managed by VicRoads and Wallace Rd is managed by Knox City Council.
The council was contacted for comment.
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