Tributes pour for Jim and Carmel Madden, killed when truck crashed into their Tower Hill home

The grieving family of a Tower Hill farming couple — killed when a truck ploughed into their home early on Friday — have told of how the pair worked to “make the world a better place”.

Carmel and Jim Madden were killed when a truck ploughed into their home. Picture: Supplied

The “totally devastated” family of Tower Hill farming couple — killed when a truck ploughed into their bedroom early on Friday morning — have told of how the elderly pair wanted to “make the world a better place”.

Jim and Carmel Madden — aged 81 and 80 respectively — died on Friday after a truck travelling east on the Princes Hwy towards Warrnambool veered onto the wrong side of the highway and into their Tower Hill home about 7am.

“As a family we are totally devastated by the tragic events of this morning.

“Jim and Carmel devoted their life to their family and have given us all so many opportunities and were immensely proud of us all,” the family said in a statement released by police on Friday night.

“As hard as it may be for everyone, they would want us and all their valued friends, the Tower Hill and Koroit communities, and all those in the farming and racing industry to continue on working to make the world a better place.

“Love to all, from the proud family of Jim and Carmel.”

Mr and Mrs Madden’s house was fenced off on Saturday, with the truck removed and debris strewn across the front yard.

Cars intermittently pulled over to view the scene.

Jim and Carmel Madden’s Tower Hill home is fenced off the day after the couple were killed by a stray truck.

The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to Warrnambool Hospital.

On Sunday police said the 70-year-old Portland West man was released pending further inquiries.

Police say the truck is not thought to have been travelling above the 100km/hr speed limit when it veered on to the wrong side of the Princes Highway and into the home of the well-known farming couple just after 7am on Friday.

The Tower Hill community in Victoria’s southwest has been left devastated after the tragic deaths of the “beautiful couple”.

They were much loved in the region, selling Angus and Friesian cattle at the nearby Warrnambool Sales Yards before it closed in 2023.

Mr Madden was also a successful racehorse trainer, with his horse Siddle’s Birthday winning the 2017 Midfield Group Handicap.

One neighbour said Mr Madden had been at the racetrack earlier on Friday, with Mrs Madden having recently come home from knee surgery.

Leonie Slaninka, who knew the Maddens, described them as a “really beautiful couple” who always sought to help others.

“They were a lovely couple who gave so much to the community and southwest Victoria,” she said.

“Even when (Jim) was running short himself on hay he would still stretch it make sure our horses didn’t go without it and always offered us what he could. He was the type of man that was very generous and kind.

“The community has lost a great man.”

Carmel and Jim Madden have been killed after a truck ploughed into their Tower Hill home. Picture: Weekly Times.

Another nearby neighbour said Jim was the “hardest working bloke you’ve ever seen in your life”, describing how he once came and checked one of his pregnant horses each day as early as 2am.

“They’re the nicest people,” he said.

“Just salt of the earth.”

Mickey Bourke’s Koroit hotel owner Peter Archbold had known the Maddens for 40 years.

He said the whole town was “in mourning”.

“They had their birthdays here, they had all their family functions here,” he said.

“They’re regulars — everybody knows them by name.

“They’re community-minded people. Anything to do with horses, shows, flowers, they were into it.”

Mr Archbold said the Maddens had been in the pub last Friday night for dinner and that their absence would be felt throughout Koroit.

“When you know someone for so long, and they’re not going to walk through your door any more, you’ve got to be affected,” he said.

The truck was travelling east towards Warrnambool when it left the road. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Koroit Lions Club treasurer David Mathison had known Mr Madden, who was former club president, for about three decades.

He called him a “capable operator” and a “good bloke to have a conversation with”, always involved in local events.

“It was really the shock,” he said.

“It’s not like you had six months to get used to him being unwell - all of a sudden he’s gone.

“It’s just a terrible, tragic event.”

Mr Mathison said it would take time for people to get used to the Maddens’ absence.

“In a community where a lot of people know a lot of people … they’ll be missed for sure,” he said.

A bouquet of flowers is rested behind the closed front gate at the Koroit Lions Club Op Shop on Saturday.

The op shop ws closed on Friday and Saturday, Mr Madden having been the president of the Lions Club.

Major Crash Investigation Unit detective Sergeant Stephen Hill said the tipper truck left the road and went through a paddock for 200 to 250m.

“I can’t say that they haven’t washed off any speed during that 200m, but clearly they haven’t washed off what you would expect to be all of the speed,” Sgt Hill said.

“So how that has happened and what was going on in the truck at the time is all under investigation at this stage, but clearly we have an open mind.”

Police are also looking at the condition of the driver at the time of the crash.

Det Sgt Hill said the road was “pretty dead straight” and there was no reason for vehicles to swerve on it.

“Clearly there’s a real question given the length of the rolling tyre prints through the paddock as to how the driver wasn’t able to stop the truck prior to colliding with the house,” Sgt Hill said.

Investigators will consider a possible mechanical fault, medical episode, inattention, phone use, and more over the next few days.

The driver was yet to be drug or alcohol tested by noon Friday.

Emergency services had to wear specialised personal protective equipment as the house was contaminated with asbestos.

Police remain at the scene in Tower Hill. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Madden’s family had been in farming for decades.

On the day he was born, his parents bought part of what would become the family farm for the next 75 years.

For about 50 years from the purchase in the 1940s, the family ran it as an agricultural property.

“We grew potatoes and onions until the mid-90s, but it was exclusively dairying after that,” Mr Madden told the Weekly Times in 2016.

The Maddens ran 300 Friesian cows on a self-contained basis, with young and dry stock, and fodder retained on-property, producing up to two million litres of milk.

Closely connected to the region, Mr Madden was the president of the Koroit Lions and Mrs Madden had previously been the president of the Koroit Probus Club.

The couple were in their bedroom when the truck hit. Picture: Timothy Cox

The Koroit Lions donation shop was shut on Friday, with a sign taped over the front saying it was “closed due to unforeseen circumstances”.

It’s expected to be closed on Saturday too.

The truck hit the front bedroom. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The truck veered off the Princes Hwy in Tower Hill and ploughed into a home. Picture: 7NEWS

Tower Hill is a small town just to the west of Warrnambool and about three hours west of Melbourne.

It has a population of about 80, with 30 private dwellings.

There is a large wildlife reserve with walks and a visitors centre from a viewing point on top of Tower Hill.

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.

Originally published as Tributes pour for Jim and Carmel Madden, killed when truck crashed into their Tower Hill home