Bella Canfield, Noah Isacc, Lachlan Pearson: Faces of Victoria’s worst pedestrian death toll in a decade

Their lives have been tragically cut short as Victoria records its worst monthly pedestrian death toll in more a decade. See the faces behind the horror statistics.

Authorities have issued an urgent plea for drivers to remain vigilant on the roads after Victoria recorded its worst monthly pedestrian death toll in more than a decade.

Ten pedestrians were killed in June alone with 27 killed in 2022.

According to the Transport Accident Commission, this year's total is one short of the pedestrian deaths in 2021 — a 93 per cent jump compared to the same period last year.

Two-thirds of these lives lost occurred in Melbourne, attributed to the “busier and more complex” road environment.

A three-year-old boy, a teenage girl with aspirations to become a nurse, a beloved father of 14 and stalwart community members, are among those lost on our roads with most occurring in the months of April and June.

The toll has sparked appeals from authorities and grieving families for road users to consider the dangers of driving in winter and adapt accordingly.

Emanoil Caita-Mandra, 86, was among those lost in June, battling for his life in the ICU for a week after he was hit by a car crossing the Princes Hwy in Noble Park.

Emanoil Caita-Mandra who was hit by a car in Melbourne's southeast on June 6 as he was crossing the road to grab lunch from McDonald's. picture: supplied

His daughter, Ligiana Bianco told the Herald Sun he had a zest for life, even after the death of his beloved wife.
“He’s always done the right thing,” she said.

“He was a life person. He loved life. He never wanted to talk about death.”

The avid churchgoer, who loved crosswords and chess, was struck by a car while crossing at a set of traffic lights on June 6.

His son Simon Caita-Mandra said he was likely walking slowly across the road due to his old age.

“He’s always careful there. He knows it’s a big intersection,” he said.

Road safety experts say pedestrian fatalities tend to spike during winter’s darker and often wetter days, but distracted driving remains one of the major causes year-round.

Road Policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said distraction has been a factor in several fatalities this year and urged motorists to remain vigilant, particularly around pedestrian crossings, at traffic lights and around built up areas.

“We know that the winter period is high-risk on Victorian roads, but particularly for vulnerable road users like pedestrians,” he said.

“During the winter months, it gets darker earlier, visibility is reduced, and the roads are often wet and slippery.

“This happens every year, but this year is worse. We need to ask ourselves why?”

Assistant commissioner Weir said all road users, including pedestrians, motorists and cyclists, need to take care and look out for one another.

“Too often people aren’t aware of their surroundings when crossing the road, often distracted by mobile phones or other devices,” he said.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.”

Transport Accident CEO Joe Calafiore said the rise in pedestrian deaths was “deeply concerning”.

“Pedestrians are some of our most vulnerable road users and stand little chance of avoiding injury or death when hit by a vehicle,” he said.

“We are pleading with Victorian’s to look out for one another on the roads, particularly in busy, built up or shared areas like intersections and shopping strips.”

He said pedestrians should make sure they’re visible to motorists and aware of their surroundings, while motorists need to slow down in areas of high pedestrian activity.