P-Plater has lucky escape after falling asleep at wheel and crashes, while another driver drifted and smashed into parked cars

Police are urging drivers rest if they’re tired after an exhausted P-plater who was working two jobs fell asleep at the wheel.

Shepparton Highway Patrol Senior Constable Matthew Farren said the P-plater was travelling from Seymour to Shepparton when he veered off the road. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Wire barriers have likely saved a drowsy young driver’s life after he fell asleep behind the wheel and veered off the road just outside of Shepparton.

Emergency services were called to a crash on the Goulburn Valley Fwy at Doyles Rd, Arcadia just after 9am on Wednesday.

Shepparton Highway Patrol Senior Constable Matthew Farren said the P-plater was travelling from Seymour to Shepparton and had been working two jobs.

“He was travelling over and he had limited sleep between his jobs — he felt fine when he was initially driving and then started to get a bit drowsy and hasn’t pulled over to take that five minutes to have a quick sleep,” Senior Constable Farren said.

“He overtook a couple of trucks and then has just veered slowly off until he’s hit the wire barriers on the side of the road.”

He added the driver was very lucky as the wire barriers saved his life from the surrounding trees.

The driver sustained no injuries as a result of the crash but his vehicle was “extensively” damaged and had to be towed.

“He was very lucky that other road users had seen the incident and assisted with the collision at the time,” Senior Constable Farren said.

“Police don’t believe drugs, alcohol or distraction was the issue — the obvious issue is the fact that he’s inexperienced and hasn’t taken the proper care to make sure his fatigue is a factor.”

The crash comes as road fatalities increase in 2023.

“This time last year was 97 deaths on the road which wasn’t great to start with but this time this year is 137 deaths — we’ve had an increasingly amount of fatalities in and around the Greater Shepparton and the surrounding area,” Senior Constable Farren said.

“The majority of our deaths are on rural roads and cross intersections — this one being on the freeway is also out of town and a lot we’re finding is driver error.

“Remember to take five to revive.”

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said no emergency treatment or transport was required.

Another crash was reported just after 9.30am in Wyndham St, Shepparton where a driver of a Holden Commodore drifted into parked cars.

Acting Sergeant Nathan Trimby said the driver was arrested and taken into custody and was assisting police with their inquiries.

“His car was badly damaged and one parked car was extensively damaged and another car had minor damage,” Sergeant Trimby said.

There were no injuries.

Anyone with more information on one or both of the incidents is urged to contact the Shepparton Police Station on [phone] or Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.