Woman killed, child critical after falling tree crushes family’s car amid horrendous weather

A child is fighting for life after a massive tree fell on a family’s car as it was travelling on Fernshaw’s Black Spur scenic road, killing one person and injuring three others amid wild weather conditions this morning.

The Black Spur scenic road is closed.

A woman has died and a child is fighting for life after a towering gum tree fell on their moving car in the Yarra Ranges.

A four-year-old boy is in a critical condition, a Royal Children’s Hospital spokeswoman said.

A five-year-old boy suffered minor injuries and was brought in to the hospital but was not admitted.

Healesville CFA Captain Graeme Bates was among the first responders at the crash and said it was a split-second tragedy.

“Whether the ground was too wet or the winds were a bit strong, it’s brought the massive tree tumbling down,” he said.

“It’s a split second thing that’s happened right when they were driving past. You think if they were a little bit earlier or later, it’s a horrible thing, a thing of nature.”

The tree was about 30m tall and crushed the Toyota sedan they were travelling in, Mr Bates said.

He said SES and CFA crews worked frantically to free the trapped occupants.

Mr Bates said it was believed the four people in the car were a family.

“When it’s a family, you’re there trying your best to get them out as soon as you can.”

He said the section of road, known as the Black Spur, was notorious for fallen trees.

At about 8.30am, half an hour before the deadly crash, a similar sized gum tree came hurtling down on to the road 50m away on the same road.

Mr Bates said in the past two months there were two other crashes in the Black Spur section as a result of fallen trees.

One left a woman’s car written off when she drove into a fallen tree.

In another incident, a man swerved to avoid a tree trunk and his car ended up 20m down an embankment.

“Driving in the bush with high winds and wet weather you’ve just to be really careful or postpone your trip,” Mr Bates said.

“The Black Spur has always got trees fallen down, you’ve just got to be cautious.”

Mr Bates said his CFA crew were on the scene on Friday for about three hours before having a debrief.

They would be offered counselling, he said.

“It’s really hard. Some of the members have been in the brigade 30 odd years now you start to get used to it. For everyone, you’re there to talk them through it and give them support.”

SES Chief Officer Tim Wiebusch said: “A very large tree came down on a family car, trapping the occupants of that vehicle for a period of time. Our thoughts go out to the family of that car and the first responders.”

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Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol officers are investigating and will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Vicroads is encouraging motorists to detour via the Melba Highway, and allow an extra hour’s travel time.

The alternative route through Warburton has been impacted by fallen trees.

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