Blind man was wearing safety equipment when he and his, seeing eye dog were fatally struck

A blind man who was struck and killed by a car along with his seeing eye dog on a country Victorian highway was well equipped for the early morning walk that led to his death, police say.

Raymond Meadows. Picture: Facebook

A blind man who had just left home with his seeing eye dog was wearing safety equipment when he and his dog were struck and killed by a car near his home on a country Victorian highway.

Raymond Meadows, 63, was wearing a high-visibility vest fitted with flashing lights when he and his seeing eye dog, Gerry, were fatally struck by an oncoming car on the Calder Highway just outside Wedderburn, 215km northwest of Melbourne, as they walked to the gym about 6.40am.

Both Mr Meadows and Gerry died at the scene. They were a short distance from home. Mr Meadows’ distraught wife heard the collision and rushed to the scene after ambulances arrived.

The accident happened in a 100km/h zone just outside the town.

A relative described Mr Meadows’ death as a “tragic accident”.

“He will be dearly missed,” she said.

Mr Meadows used both a long white cane and his seeing eye dog Gerry to get around. Picture: Facebook

Mr Meadows with Gerry. Picture: Supplied

Campaspe Highway Patrol Senior Constable Paul Nicoll said Mr Meadows was struck in the dark.

“The collision occurred almost outside his front gate on the Calder Hwy,” he said.

“It was dark. There is no street lighting because it’s a rural area.

“He was on his way to the gym. This is his usual route.

“He had his guide dog, a cane and was wearing a high-vis vest with flashing lights but we are unsure if they were working at the time.”

Sgt Nicoll said it appeared the man had edged onto the road when he was struck.

The driver did not have drugs or alcohol in his system at the time.

The man, aged in his 20s, stopped to help and was later taken to hospital and treated for shock.

“For some reason it appears the pedestrian may possibly have been in the southbound lane while travelling. We don’t know why,” said Sgt Nicoll.

“The driver didn’t see him. It appears his car was in the correct position and the pedestrian was on the edge of the highway.”

Mr Meadows’ extended family is travelling to Wedderburn today.

His death has had an enormous impact on the small community.

“His wife was at the scene. She is extremely sad,” Sgt Nicoll said.

He said there were no witnesses to the collision and urged anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward.

Friend Murray Smyth said the small town was in mourning.

“He used to walk to the newsagency every morning early, 2km each way,” he said.

Local supermarket workers remembered the man as “very friendly”.

One worker told the Herald Sun he and his black labrador would cross the highway each morning to pick up groceries.

“He was a local. Everyone knows him,” she said.

“He would walk across the highway every day and arrive about 8.30am.

“He was very friendly.”

Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs general manager David Speyer described Ray’s death as a “terrible tragedy”.

“Ray and Seeing Eye Dog Gerry touched the hearts of many at Vision Australia,” he said.

“This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers go out to Ray’s family, our staff, puppy carers and all that knew them.”

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The incident is being investigated by police.

So far this year, 139 people have died on Victoria roads, up from 88 at the same time last year.

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@AneekaSimonis