One dead, two injured after car hits pedestrians on footpath

An out-of-control vehicle driven by a 91-year-old woman has struck pedestrians on a footpath, killing one and seriously injuring two including a young child.

A car has crashed into a park at Wantirna South. Picture: David Crosling

One pedestrian has died and two others, including a young child, have been rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries after they were struck by an elderly driver who lost control of her car and mounted the footpath in Melbourne’s east.

Victoria Police said a 91-year-old female driver hit a couple and a child as they were walking down Coleman Rd in Wantirna South, about 25km east of Melbourne’s CBD, on Thursday.

A woman was killed, while the child — aged three or four years old — and the man were both rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said a Toyota Yaris had travelled about 40m or 50m along the footpath before it hit the three pedestrians.

“That driver has then continued with some degree of a lack of control down Coleman Rd and has collided with a street sign and then has ended up in a reserve about 200m from the collision scene with those three people,” Superintendent Goldsmith said.

After striking the pedestrians, the car then ploughed through a fence and came to rest near a playground.

“After the collision with the people, the car has continued for another 200m towards that park, gone through a fence, but thankfully nobody else has been injured,” he said.

Superintendent Goldsmith said it was understood the man and woman who were struck were aged between 30 and 40.

“We’re not sure of the relationship between the people who were injured. There’s every likelihood that it could be a young family, but that is unclear to us at this stage,” he said. “It’s an absolute tragedy.”

The SES tent near a playground at the scene of the crash. Picture: Nine News

Superintendent Goldsmith said it was unclear whether the driver had suffered a medical episode but said she would be interviewed by police later on Thursday. The driver was “terribly shaken” and had been taken to hospital with minor injuries for assessment and blood tests, he said.

“She’ll be interviewed by our investigators, we’re hoping to do that later on tonight, so once the scene has been processed and we get an account from her, we’ll make a determination on whether or not charges are laid,” Superintendent Goldsmith said. “We’re thankful that nobody else has been injured because with a car that seems to have some degree of lack of control for around 200m … it is fortunate that nobody else has been impacted by it.”

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson earlier confirmed it had responded to the incident at about 12.20pm on Thursday.

“Paramedics treated three patients at the scene,” the spokesperson said. “One adult has been transported to The Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.

“A child has been transported to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a serious condition.”

At least six ambulances attended the scene of the crash. Photos taken from a helicopter showed an SES tent erected near the playground, and a fence that appeared to be damaged. A 40km/h speed sign had been knocked over.

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