Road surface may hold crash clue

By Kath Gannaway
POLICE investigating a fatal crash at Coldstream last month, say they are looking into the condition of the road surface as one of a number of possible contributing factors.
An Irish tourist was killed on 21 February in a two-car collision at the beginning of the overtaking lane on Maroondah Highway between Stringybark Creek and Boundary Road.
Major Collision Investigation Unit’s Senior Constable Simon Cussack said a number of people had come forward who had had incidents on that section of the road and that they are following up complaints made to VicRoads.
Healesville resident Ray Windley drives to work each week on the Maroondah Highway. He told the Mail he reported what he considered to be the dangerous condition of the road to VicRoads about six to eight months ago and was surprised when no action was taken.
Mr Windley said he was concerned when his van lost traction and slipped sideways on the shiny centre (overtaking) lane after it had been raining but when it happened a second time he reported it.
“The shiny strip went right up the hill starting from where it (the road) separates,” he said.
He said he was astounded to see roadworks being done two days after the fatal crash when nothing had been done to address the problem in the months following his complaint.
“They (VicRoads) did put new bitumen down in one section on the other side of the road not long after I reported it, but did nothing about the shiny part heading towards Healesville,” he said.
While no firm figure was available in response to the Mail’s inquiries to VicRoads about how many complaints they had received about that section of highway over the past six months a VicRoads spokesman estimated it at “just a handful; more than five less than 10”.
In terms of the priority put on rectifying the problem, Steve Brown, VicRoads regional manager, said the works were part of VicRoads maintenance program and had been scheduled to start on 23 February.
The work carried out, he said, involved the road being water blasted to create a better surface.
Mr Brown said VicRoads, however, had previously installed road signs advising road users to be careful of slippery conditions when the road was wet.
“Since elected, the State Government has spent half a billion dollars on more than 1200 safety-related road projects,” Mr Brown said.
“The Government committed a further $597m over the next 10 years under Meeting Our Transport Challenges,” he added.
Snr Const Cussack said the MCIU is continuing to talk with witnesses and to gather information from the public. Anyone with information can contact the MCIU on 9380 7299.
He said since 2001 there had been four serious or fatal crashes at or close to, February’s accident scene.