Man charged after fatal Melbourne West Gate Freeway collision

A man has been charged over a fatal crash that brought one of Melbourne’s busiest roads to a halt during peak hour.

A man has been charged following a crash on Melbourne’s West Gate Freeway which claimed another man’s life last week.

A silver Ford Falcon XR6 sedan was allegedly travelling outbound along the bridge near Williamstown Rd, Spotswood when it collided with a Vinnies truck around 10.35am on July 5.

A passenger in the Ford Falcon, a 22-year-old Truganina man, was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries and died the next day.

The silver car involved in the crash being taken away on a tow truck. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Three other men aged in their 20s who were in the car were arrested at the scene and released pending further enquiries.

The two men inside the Vinnies truck were not injured.

Traffic moving through Melbourne CBD was backed up for several hours – the truck reportedly rolled four times – while emergency services surveyed the scene.

The Vinnies truck being towed away. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

A driver who was on the West Gate Bridge at the time alleged that a silver car which was involved in the crash sped past him “like a bullet”.

“He was driving like a madman,” the 3AW caller said.

“I thought to myself, ‘He won’t make it to the other side of the bridge.’

‘It was like watching a video game.”

A major crash on the West Gate Freeway caused heavy traffic delays. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Police have now charged the driver of the Ford Falcon, a 21-year-old Wyndham Vale man, with dangerous driving causing death, six counts of reckless conduct endangering life and commit indictable offence whilst on bail.

The man remains in hospital.