‘Beautiful Blake’: Victim of horror head-on Anglesea collision identified as Corio man Blake Laity

A local man is being remembered as a ‘kind hearted soul’ after being identified as the victim of a fatal collision on the Great Ocean Road in Anglesea on Saturday.

26-year-old Blake Laity has been identified as the victim of the horror head-on collision in Anglesea on Saturday.

The man who died after a head-on collision on the Great Ocean Road on Saturday afternoon has been identified.

Blake Laity, 26, died at the scene of the horrific smash that left one other motorist in hospital.

The Corio man was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle he was in.

The Geelong community left tributes to Mr Laity and his family via social media following the collision .

One post remembered Mr Laity as a “kind hearted soul,” and said he was “loved by many.”

“Condolences to the Laity family, my heart goes out to all friends and family,” the post read.

“You will be missed by many Blake fly high.”

A comment left on social media read “Rip brother, such a genuine soul and a heart of gold.”

“Rest in paradise bro.”

“Beautiful Blake,” another commenter wrote.

“My heart is broken.”

Police confirmed officers were investigating after the fatal collision in Anglesea.

A police spokeswoman said it was understood two vehicles collided on the popular scenic route, near Ellimatta Rd, about 12.25pm.

The 58-year-old driver of the second vehicle was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A picture of Blake Laity taken from Facebook in 2018.

The spokeswoman said the circumstances surrounding the collision were yet to be established and the investigation was ongoing.

Volunteers from the SES Road Rescue Unit Torquay were called to the scene about 12.30pm on Saturday.

It’s understood the drivers of each of the vehicles, were trapped following the crash.

The drivers were no longer trapped as of 2.15pm, while emergency services remained on scene.

According to an Ambulance Victoria spokesman, one of the drivers was taken to Geelong hospital in a serious but stable condition, with injuries to their face and legs.

A Barwon Health spokeswoman confirmed at 5.35pm that the patient had been discharged from the hospital.

Ambulance, Fire Rescue Victoria, SES, CFA and Police were all on scene.

According to VicRoads, the crash had closed the Great Ocean Road between Ellimatta and Forest Rd.

Emergency services were directing traffic onto local roads as a detour.

The scene of a serious two-car collision on Saturday. Picture: Mark Wilson

“Consider Anglesea Road, Hendy Main Road, Cape Otway Road, The Princes Highway, Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Road and Deans Marsh-Lorne Road, but allow plenty of extra time for the detour,” VicRoads said.

“The closure is under the control of Victoria Police, and the road will be reopened when it is safe to do so.”

The road was reopened to traffic by 5pm.

It’s understood the collision occurred at a double white line bend in the road, with no adjoining streets nearby.

The speed limit in the area is 80 km/h.

The stretch of road near where the collision occurred Picture: Google Maps

It’s understood there had been more than 10 emergency service vehicles on the scene at about 2.40pm.

In January, an elderly motorbike rider was flown to hospital after he collided with a car on the Great Ocean Road at Fairhaven.

In August, an investigation was launched into a separate motorcycle collision in April on the major road that left a rider badly injured.

In March, 2021, a 10km stretch of the Great Ocean Road was closed for about three hours after a collision which landed a man in his 60s in hospital.

Anyone who witnessed the October 14 collision or with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Originally published as ‘Beautiful Blake’: Victim of horror head-on Anglesea collision identified as Corio man Blake Laity