Crash claims Healesville man

Emergency services crews at the scene of the crash on Thursday night. The driver of the sedan died the following day. 140169 Picture: VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS

By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS and JESSE GRAHAM

AN ELDERLY Healesville man died in the aftermath of a serious car accident last Thursday, on a dangerous corner coming into Healesville.
At about 4.30pm on Thursday, 4 June, the 76-year-old Healesville man was driving a sedan along Healesville-Kooweerup Road towards Healesville.
Healesville police Leading Senior Constable Cliff Argus said the driver was waiting for a line of traffic to pass on the other side of the road so he could turn right onto Toolebewong Road.
“There was a line of traffic – five or six cars travelling from Healesville to Woori Yallock,” Leading Sen Const Argus said.
“He let the first four or five cars go through and then turned in front of the last car.”
The car, a four-wheel-drive driven by a 27-year-old Yarra Junction man, hit the sedan on the corner.
The Healesville man was airlifted to The Alfred hospital with life-threatening injuries, and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9pm on Friday 5 June.
Leading Sen Const Argus said the man died from a “non-survivable brain injury”.
At the time of the crash, Leading Sen Const Argus said the exact circumstances of the crash were unclear, and that police were speaking to witnesses.
“Witnesses said the 4WD was travelling last in a line of traffic and the driver of the sedan had let five of the six vehicles in line go through before turning into the intersection,” he said.
“Witnesses saw that the driver of the 4WD had his headlights on so there was no real reason for the elderly male not to have seen the vehicle.”
The Yarra Junction man sustained minor injuries in the crash.
The family of the Healesville man has been notified of his death.
Anyone who may have witnessed the accident, or who has more information, is urged to contact Healesville police on 5962 4422.