Lighthouse Christian College parents want 100km/h speed limit near school lowered after second horrific crash

PARENTS at the Cranbourne school where a woman and her daughter were killed last week say they have spent years calling for speed reductions on the stretch of road.

Lighthouse Christian College parents pick up their children from school days after the smash which killed a student and her mother. Picture: Chris Eastman

PARENTS at the Lighthouse Christian College say they have spent years calling for speed reductions on the stretch of road where a woman and her daughter were killed.

Ma Li Dai and 14-year-old Xinyu died after a Holden Commodore smashed into their car as they left parent-teacher interviews at the school on August 9.

Police believe the 26-year-old male driver of the Commodore had left a bar following a heated argument and are investigating whether speed or alcohol may have been a factor in the horrific crash which has left the community reeling.

Two killed in Cranbourne East car crash

Only weeks earlier a teacher at the school was taken to hospital after a vehicle ploughed into hers as she pulled out from the school.

Speaking to Cranbourne Leader the day after the latest horror smash, mum Karena Thomas, who has two children at the school, said there were near-misses outside the school all the time.

Ms Thomas said traffic had markedly increased in the past nine years and the speed limit near the school should reduced to 60km/h at all times.

She said the teacher at the school who was flown to hospital after a crash at the same spot in July was lucky to be alive.

“Her three children were in the car with her,” she said.

“It’s just happened in the past five years with all these estates coming up the road is really busy.

“In 2008 there were only a few students and now there are more than 800.”

Xinyu Yuan and her mother Ma Li Dai, who were killed in the crash. Picture: Supplied

Ms Thomas said the traffic made it very difficult to get out of the school, with parents waiting “at least 15 minutes”.

She said as well as drivers there were also a lot of large trucks barrelling up and down the highway.

Another parent, Alan Barwell said he had personally witnessed a couple of near-misses.

He said there could easily be sections of the road that went down to 80km/h, then 60km/h, like the section of the road near the racetrack, 3.5km away.

“I know it’s a highway but still,” he said.

“This is the second incident.”

Mother-of-four Julia Sili said the fatal crash was a tragedy and 100km/h was “way too high”.

“At other schools it’s 40, how come not this one,” she said.

“It’s like they have to wait until someone else dies.

“They really should put it down.”

Principal Jacob Mathews said the school had sent petitions to VicRoads via the council in the past calling for investigations into road safety, and said parents had spoken to him about their concerns over the last couple of weeks.

Flowers near the site of the crash where a 14-year-old and her mother lost their lives Picture: Chris Eastman

He said the teacher who was in the accident was recovering well but would likely not return to school for another month.

“A 60 zone would be really good during school hours but then it could go back up to 80 at other times,” he said. “(VicRoads) wants to work with us to make sure it is safe.”

Casey mayor Sam Aziz said the council would also advocate to VicRoads for safety measures on the road, including speed reductions.

“I will move a motion of urgent business ... requesting council write to VicRoads, who have responsibility for the South Gippsland Highway, to request a review of speed limits at the scene of the crash,” he said.

“Our priority now is to support the school and wider community through this tragedy.”

VicRoads CEO John Merritt said he was “deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life and my heart goes out to those involved, their family and friends”.

However, he said the road was not a black spot and any decision would be made after the police investigation.

“VicRoads will look at what can be done to improve safety for drivers exiting the school’s driveway and continue to monitor traffic conditions.”

VicRoads reviewed speed limits at the toad in 2016 but decided that due to the nature of the access, turning movement, volumes on the road and previous improvements to the intersection, the 100km/h speed limit was appropriate.

VicRoads’s statistics show there have been four other crashes at the site since 2006, including one resulting in serious injury.