Charges laid over Thornton collision that killed firefighter
A man has been charged over the death of firefighter and father, Mat Kavanagh, who was killed in the line of duty when a car slammed into the ute he was travelling in.
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Police have charged a man with dangerous driving causing death after a firefighter was killed responding to the devastating East Gippsland bushfires.
Forest management firefighter Mat Kavanagh, 43, died when the ute he was a passenger in crashed into a car at Thornton, near Mansfield, on January 3.
The father of two had helped put out seven unattended campfires before the head-on collision on the Goulburn Valley Highway at 1.45pm.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have now charged a 46-year-old Alexandra man over the fatal crash.
The accused, who was driving the car which crashed into the firefighters’ ute, was initially flown to hospital in a critical condition.
He has been remanded in custody to appear at Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on April 28.
The 47-year-old Narbethong man who was driving the ute which Mr Kavanagh was travelling in was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Mr Kavanagh’s death has been added to the bushfire toll as he was on-duty while working on the East Gippsland bushfires at the time.
Mr Kavanagh was remembered as a “well-loved” family man passionate about the outdoors.
He had extinguished seven unattended campfires before the crash on the Goulburn Valley Highway last Friday.
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Mr Kavanagh’s wife Jude paid tribute to her husband, describing him as “positive, happy, smart, passionate, funny and loyal”.
Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said the 10-year veteran’s death had devastated Mr Kavanagh’s loved ones and colleagues.
“I can’t imagine what the family are going through and what Matt’s colleagues are going through,” he said. “It is such a very sad day.”