Wantirna South crash as it happened: Police probe whether speed a factor after one killed, two injured in crash near playground

That brings our live coverage of the Wantirna South crash to an end for today.

For further updates on this tragic story, you can head here.

A woman has died and a young boy and man have been seriously injured after being struck by a car driven by an elderly woman who lost control in Melbourne’s outer east.

The incident occurred around 12.20pm on Thursday on Coleman Road in Wantirna South, when a 91-year-old driver lost control of her silver hatchback, hitting three pedestrians and crashing through a playground fence.

Paramedics treated all three victims at the scene. The woman died, while the man was transported to The Alfred Hospital in critical condition. A child, aged between three and four years old, is receiving treatment for serious injuries at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Police cordoned off several blocks around the park where the car remains wedged against a park bench near the children’s playground inside Coleman Reserve.

During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said the driver lost control near the intersection of Coleman Road and Bindi Street, mounted the footpath, and hit three individuals.

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith addressed the media in Wantirna South on Thursday afternoon.Credit: Eddie Jim

Investigations are ongoing into the speed at which the elderly driver was travelling. The section of Coleman Road where the crash occurred is equipped with traffic management chicanes designed to slow vehicles. Police are yet to determine if the driver struck or attempted to avoid these chicanes before mounting the footpath.

Police are also investigating whether the 91-year-old driver suffered a medical episode.

Goldsmith said investigators hoped to gather more information after speaking with the driver on Thursday evening, describing the elderly woman who sustained minor injuries during the incident as emotionally “very shaken up.”

Footage obtained by The Age from a house on Coleman Road shows a silver Toyota Yaris travelling on the north side of the road with a hubcap rolling behind it.

The CCTV also appears to show a family with a pram walking in the opposite direction just before the accident. The Age has not yet confirmed if these individuals were involved in the crash.

Police are continuing to interview witnesses and have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

The Age has obtained footage that appears to show the car involved in the crash.

The CCTV footage from a house on Coleman Road shows a silver hatchback travelling on the north side of the road, with a hubcap believed to be from the front left wheel seen rolling after it.

The footage also shows what appears to be a family walking with a pram in the opposite direction just before the time of the accident.

The Age is yet to confirm the people in the video were involved in the accident.

Samuel Chen first heard about the accident on social media, and then contacted his parents who live right near the crash site.

“Mum picked up the phone, and she told me that they weren’t sure what had happened, but basically the lady who was driving the vehicle knocked on [her] door and asked whether she could use [their] toilet,” he said.

“I think this is right after the incident, and the lady was with one of her close relatives or emergency contact. She came to use the toilet and the emergency response personnel were there, they came in, and then they left after a bit.

“[Mum] said she was just bleeding from the leg, but nothing very serious.”

Chen said an incident like this was “really out of the ordinary” for Coleman Road.

“There’s a bit of traffic, but people aren’t travelling at crazy speeds, and there’s lots of chicanes as well to slow people down,” he said.

“We live right next to [the playground] and parents will be waiting sitting on that bench, so it sees a lot of use.

“There’s a community centre right next to us and also a tennis club. Whenever people are walking by, some of them will stop, and if Mum and Dad are out there gardening, they’ll have a chat with the people. It’s really quite tragic to hear what has happened ... I think it will leave a mark.”

Newly appointed Ambulance Victoria chief executive Jordan Emery described the crash in Wantirna South as a “shocking incident.”

“I’m incredibly proud of our people who attended that incident,” Emery told 3AW.

“I’ve been fortunate to speak to one of the managers who attended the case and supported our crews after that case, we sent 10 resources to a number of patients, we’ve transported two of those patients to hospital. The team have done a remarkable job, but obviously very tragic situation there.”

Federal MP Mary Doyle, whose seat of Aston covers Wantirna South, offered her condolences to those involved via social media, writing, “My thoughts are with the families affected and the Wantirna South community. Thank you to the emergency service workers and bystanders who attended the scene.”

Knox council mayor Lisa Cooper also spoke out, and said council was “extremely saddened” by the incident.

“Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the person who has died, and our thoughts are with those who were injured and all of those impacted by this tragedy,” she said.

The section of Coleman Road where the crash occurred features traffic management chicanes intended to slow traffic.

Police said it is not yet clear if the driver had struck or attempted to avoid the chicanes before mounting the footpath.

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said police will interview the elderly driver later tonight.Credit: Eddie Jim

Police are still investigating whether the incident will be considered a high-speed crash.

Police are still working to identify whether the three people hit on the footpath are family.

Speaking at the scene on Thursday afternoon, superintendent Justin Goldsmith said it was possible that both the man and woman who were hit are aged between 30 and 40.

“It’s an absolute tragedy,” he said.

“We’re thankful that nobody else has been injured,” he said.

Police described the crash as an ‘absolute tragedy’.Credit: Eddie Jim

Goldsmith said after the woman struck the three people, she continued driving for another 200 metres towards the park.

At this stage, it is unclear whether the 91-year-old woman had suffered a medical episode. Goldsmith said the driver suffered minor injuries from the incident and was emotionally “very shaken up”.

“We haven’t got a lot of detail from the driver,” he said.

“We’ve taken the driver to hospital for assessments, and we are hoping to get further details from her later on this evening.”

Police are continuing to interview witnesses and have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

Police are still investigating the speed at which an elderly female was driving before hitting three people in Wantirna South.

“It is a downhill section of road, so if there has been a lack of control to some degree, there is a possibility that the car would have picked up speed as it streamed down,” superintendent Justin Goldsmith said.

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said police are probing whether speed was a factor in the crash. Credit: Eddie Jim

Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash. Credit: Eddie Jim

“We don’t have enough information to say that it’s a high-speed crash or that speed is a contributing factor at this stage.”

An elderly woman behind the wheel of a Toyota Yaris that crashed through a playground in Wantirna South has been taken to hospital.

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said the 91-year-old driver struck a couple, leaving one dead, and a young boy aged between three and four-years-old in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Damage can be seen on the car and a park bench. Credit: Eddie Jim

From the couple, a woman has died as a result of the crash, and a man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Goldsmith said the woman lost control near the intersection of Coleman Road and Bindi Street before mounting the footbath and hitting three people.

Victoria Police have just provided an update from the scene. Rewatch the press conference in full below: