Three people, including a husband and wife, are dead after a driver reportedly sped through traffic lights, appearing as a ‘‘white flash’’ before slamming into a pedestrian and another car in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.
Witnesses reported seeing a ‘‘white flash’’ at the Oakleigh intersection just before the crash, Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Clanchy said.
We’ve been expecting something like this … It’s one of those things you expect on this kind of road.Â
‘‘We have witnesses who said that they did see a white flash in the intersection and the intersection does have traffic cameras,’’ he told reporters.
A man walking across Dandenong Road at the intersection with Warrigal Road was hit by a white Kia hatchback about 11.40pm on Sunday, police say. The man, 45, died at the scene.
Police believe the Kia then crashed into a silver Ford sedan. Two people inside the Ford were killed. The cars were smashed on impact, with one missing its driver-side door, while the hatchback was crushed from the front.
Police have described the crash as a tragedy, highlighting that three people who were doing nothing wrong were now dead. Speed is being investigated as a contributing factor.
‘‘It was very chaotic, with a man aged in his 30s trapped in the wreckage of one car,’’ he said.
‘‘He was treated by paramedics as firefighters freed him from the car.’’
Among those injured, a woman in her 50s suffered chest and back injuries, a man in his 30s sustained injuries to his back and pelvis, and a man in his 60s injured his back.
The intersection was closed for several hours while emergency services cleared the area. It reopened about 8am.
Residents who live nearby said they heard some noise, but because the intersection was always very busy, it did not cause too much concern.
‘‘To be honest, we’ve been expecting something like this,’’ said one neighbour, who declined to be named.
‘‘It’s one of those things you expect on this kind of road.
‘‘And there’s so many people who speed through it to beat the red lights – just fly through, especially over Dandenong Road.’’
Good Samaritans have stuck flowers to a nearby pole, pledging to set up a fund in memory of the three lives lost.
Members of a car club, called the ‘‘HighWay Masters’’, who cruise on nearby roads, have pledged to raise money to help the families of the injured and the dead.
A member, who did not want to be named, said he lived just down the road from the crash. He said the club would hold a charity drive on Friday in honour of the victims.
“We want to pay our respects and raise money for the families, which we’d give to a family member, friend or even a lawyer to help them out,” the member said.
Victoria’s road toll for 2014 is eight, compared with four at the same time last year.
Source: The Age