Maroondah Highway driver crashes avoiding falling tree on The Black Spur
Police are urging caution after a woman crashed trying to avoid a falling tree along a scenic stretch of Yarra Ranges road. The incident happened only five months after a woman was killed when a tree fell on her car.
Outer East
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A woman has narrowly avoided injury after crashing her car down an embankment while trying to avoid a falling tree along the Black Spur.
A 69-year-old Alexandra woman was driving along the scenic stretch of road near in the Yarra Valley when a cool change swept through about 4.30pm on Friday, January 10.
This is the second incident in five months after Endeavour Hills mum Angie Suryadi was killed when a tree fell on her family’s car while they were on a snow trip driving along The Black Spur on August 9.
Yarra Ranges highway patrol acting Sergeant Chad Bullock said Friday’s accident happened during the bout of heavy rain and strong winds, when a tree fell in the path of the woman’s car and the driver swerved to avoid a crash.
The car travelled 20m down a slope — through the bush — before coming to a stop.
Acting Sgt Bullock said fortunately the woman not injured but her car was “pretty badly damaged”.
He said the incident serves as a reminder for drivers to take extra caution on the long, forest-lined road.
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Acting Sgt Bullock also reminded drivers to take special care on the road, which has repeatedly had issues with falling trees.
He said particularly in bad weather conditions, drivers should slow down along the road.