Fatal crash in Bendigo amid spate of serious crashes in country Victoria
A man is dead after his car crashed into a tree in Bendigo amid a spate of serious crashes and a hit-run collision across regional Victoria.
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A man has died after his car smashed into a tree, while a teenager is in a critical condition following two separate crashes in central Victoria.
The incidents marked another dangerous weekend on the state’s roads as authorities try to curb the surging road toll.
Police said the fatal crash happened in Bendigo at 6am yesterday (SUN) when the male driver came off the road and hit a tree on McCrae St, near Baxter St.
The man died at the scene.
His passenger received minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
In another incident, an elderly woman was left lying on the middle of the road with serious injuries when she was struck by a car while leaving church.
Police are hunting for a male driver who they say failed to properly help the woman when she was injured on Saturday night.
Officers said the 80-year-woman had just left a church service at St Mary of the Angels Basilica on Yarra Street to meet her husband when the freak incident unfolded.
They say she was crossing the road in wet conditions when a man reversed his car and struck the woman.
Geelong Highway Patrol Sergeant Darren Murphy said the driver stopped to briefly check if the woman was stable, but then quickly fled the scene, leaving the woman stranded on the road. She suffered serious injuries including a broken collar bone.
Sgt Murphy said police were desperate to find the driver who had “failed to render appropriate assistance” after hitting the woman.
“It’s terrible behaviour we would like to think if any person who has been struck by a car, certainly an 80 year-old lady,” Sgt Murphy said.
“You’d want to render all assistance you can and help them as best as you can.
“The driver of the car has certainly stopped and we believe he has hopped out of his car, had a brief conversation with thelady who was lying in the middle of the road, asked if she was OK and then hopped back in his car and driven off.”
On Saturday night, three people were injured when a car struck a tree on the Pyrenees Highway in Bung Bong, near Maryborough.
Police said the driver, a man in his 30s, lost control and smashed about 11.30pm.
The driver was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
A 16-year-old passenger was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, while a third passenger, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Investigations into both crashes remain ongoing.
Another crash on Saturday night involved a car ploughing into a tree in the Wimmera town of Navarre.
The driver lost control on Barkly-Navarre Rd about 9.40pm, causing the car to hit a tree then roll before coming to rest in a nearby paddock.
The 28-year-old driver was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and was later arrested.
An 18-year-old passenger was flown to hospital with critical injuries, while a third passenger, also 18, was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Detectives from Major Collision Investigation Unit were at the scene on Sunday morning.
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Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam footage or witnesses to come forward.
Any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au