Good Samaritan killed after coming to driver’s aid on Monash Freeway

Police have lauded the good Samaritan spirit of a Langwarrin woman killed aiding a fellow motorist on the Monash, but the tragedy was a stark warning of the risks of stopping on a freeway.

A woman killed after being struck by a car when she pulled over to help another driver who had crashed moments earlier on the Monash Freeway has been lauded by police.

The woman stopped after a car travelling east on Heatherton Rd in Endeavour Hills struck traffic lights then crashed off an overpass on to the freeway at 3.15am.

The woman, a 63-year-old from Langwarrin in Melbourne’s southeast, went to help the driver when she was tragically hit by a ute.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Christopher Hayes said police were still piecing together the exact circumstances of the fatality.

“She would have witnessed something quite extraordinary and I think the impulse to stop is perfectly reasonable,” Sen-Sgt Hayes said.

“To brave those dark conditions unfortunately cost her life.

“You can’t help but admire the spirit of which the person has conducted themselves and to think that the outcome is so horrific is a real shame.”

Sen-Sgt Hayes said investigators believed a small vehicle crashed off the Heatherton Rd overpass onto the inbound lanes of the freeway.

Photos from the scene showed a badly damaged small white SUV.

A woman was killed on the Monash Freeway at Endeavour Hills. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A car at the scene of the fatal accident. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Another vehicle on the freeway has stopped to assist this person,” Sen-Sgt Hayes said.

“This woman was struck by a third vehicle.”

The driver of the car that crashed off the Heatherton Rd overpass was a 35-year-old man from Noble Park.

The woman struck by the ute had stopped on a running lane of the freeway, not in the emergency lane, police said.

“It looks like she didn’t stop in the emergency lane, but used the first lane of the freeway,” Sen-Sgt Hayes said.

“We don’t know what caused the first driver to lose control.

“We do know that he left Heatherton Rd right near the overpass and crashed through bushes and down the embankment.

“It would have taken quite some speed to achieve this.”

Police urged people to “contact emergency services in the first instance and wait for safety before (giving) assistance”.

Police inspecting debris from the crash. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The woman had stopped to help a driver in another crash when she was hit. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Sgt Heather Allen of Casey highway patrol said speed and fatigue were being investigated as part of the accident probe. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

“She would have witnessed something quite extraordinary and I think the impulse to stop is perfectly reasonable,” Sen-Sgt Hayes said.

“To brave those dark conditions unfortunately cost her life.

“You can’t help but admire the spirit of which the person has conducted themselves and to think that the outcome is so horrific is a real shame.”

The driver of the first car had driven through an embankment and crashed into a concrete barrier, with Sergeant Heather Allen saying he was “super lucky” to escape the incident without serious injuries.

“Speed, fatigue and all the other related factors are currently being investigated,” she said.

The driver of the first car was taken to hospital with minor injuries and is assisting police with inquiries.

The driver of the vehicle that struck the woman is a 28-year-old Traralgon man.

He was uninjured and is also helping police.

No one has yet been charged.

The Monash was reopened to inbound traffic between Heatherton and Stud roads at midday.

The eastbound lanes of Heatherton Rd have also been reopened.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or with dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report via crimestoppersvic.com.au