Grovedale crash: Driver charged, passenger in hospital after smash

A Charlemont man has been charged and a man is fighting for life after a car allegedly collided with a pole on a busy road in Grovedale on Friday afternoon.

A passenger involved in a terrifying smash on a busy Grovedale road remains in a fight for his life two days on.

On Sunday morning, the Royal Melbourne Hospital confirmed the man in his 30s was still in a critical condition after being flown in via air ambulance on Friday afternoon.

A Charlemont man was charged on Saturday in relation to the shock crash, in which a Holden Commedore wagon crashed into a pole on Torquay Rd about 3.15pm on Friday.

Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit charged the 29-year-old driver of the car with dangerous driving cause serious injury.

The driver was bailed to appear at the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday.

Troquay Rd was closed in both directions on Friday evening between Marshalltown Rd and Pioneer Rd, as police processed the scene.

CCTV footage of the crash circulated on social media shows the car slamming into the pole.

Police believe the vehicle was attempting a U-turn.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

EARLIER: Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are travelling to an incident in Grovedale where a car has allegedly crashed into a pole on Friday afternoon.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman alleged officers were told a Holden Commodore wagon was travelling on Torquay Rd when the driver performed a U-turn and crashed into a pole about 3.15pm.

“The driver, who was uninjured, has been arrested by police and is expected to be interviewed in relation to the crash,” she said.

“His passenger was extracted from the car and transported to hospital with life threatening injuries.

“It is expected the road will be closed for some time while detectives process the scene.”

A Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) spokesman said firefighters responded to the incident.

“Firefighters arrived on scene to find a car in collision with a concrete pole with one person trapped,” he said.

“Firefighters relocated the vehicle and extracted the patient in conjunction with Ambulance Victoria and VICSES.”

The spokesman said the scene was deemed under control before 4pm and Victoria Police were also on the scene.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said Advanced Life Support and Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance paramedics were on scene, as well as an air ambulance.

“One person has been transported by road ambulance to Geelong University Hospital,” she said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au

Originally published as Grovedale crash: Driver charged, passenger in hospital after smash