A CRASH in Victoria's west yesterday has brought back haunting memories of a horror smash in which six people died a year ago.
The Herald Sun reports that police are interviewing a Ross Creek P-plater, 21, for suspected drink-driving after he allegedly failed to give way and hit another vehicle on his way to the Dunkeld Races yesterday.
Five people were sent to Ararat and Ballarat Hospitals with significant injuries, including broken bones, following the collision, which happened on Ararat - Mortlake Road, Rossbridge, at 10.35am.
North Grampions Highway Patrol Sergeant Peter Hawkins said man’s ute T-boned the other car, pushing it 40 metres into a paddock, while his ute rolled several times.
The Ross Creek man was uninjured but his passenger, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital suffering a concussion and superficial injuries.
The four people in the other car were also taken to hospital.
Sgt Hawkins said the crash bore an “eerie” resemblance and a feeling of deja vu to a fatal collision on November 12 last year in which six people died in a fireball smash between a truck and a carload of revellers on their way to the Dunkeld Races.
“It’s almost exactly 12 months to the day of (of the races), in fact, almost 12 months to the minute,” Sgt Hawkins said.
“A lot of people working at the scene this morning, some who had attended the first incident were visibly upset.”
“The first thoughts I had was that it was just pure luck it wasn’t a repeat of last year. There was a feeling of disbelief then, but it’s uncanny it’s all sort-of repeated itself on the day of the Dunkeld Races.”
Twin sisters and three friends on their way to the Dunkeld races, and a 48-year-old truck driver were all victims of last year’s horrific smash.
Sgt Hawkins said he was “at a loss” of what else to do but repeat the “cliches” about staying safe on the roads.
“To me there was a feeling of extreme frustration. I feel at a loss as to what else to give you. All we can do is press on. That’s the way I feel about it.
“Until people start taking responsibility it’s going to be a long battle,” he said.
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