The driver of the silver Honda was trapped for more than an hour.
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
A DRIVER trapped in a three-car pile up brought Warburton to a standstill last week.
The collision occurred on Warburton Highway at the corner of Hooks Road at 6.45am on Thursday 22 July.
Police believe a woman in a red-coloured Ford Falcon was driving towards Warburton when a silver Honda travelling in the opposite direction appeared to have lost control, crossed onto the wrong side of the road and hit the Falcon head-on.
Leading Senior Constable Ian Whitehall from the Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol said the car bounced back and was hit from behind by a four-wheel drive.
State Emergency Services volunteers from Upper Yarra, Healesville and Marysville attended and began to free the trapped 25-year-old driver from the silver-coloured Honda.
Upper Yarra SES spokesman Russell Wulf said SES volunteers had to wait for paramedics before they could release the man, after he told them he began to feel tingling in his legs.
“The paramedics were 30 minutes and we had a hell of a decision to make whether to get him out or wait,” Mr Wulf said.
Mr Wulf said they monitored the man closely while they waited for paramedics.
Ambulance Victoria spokesperson Paul Bentley said the driver fractured his left leg and dislocated his ankle.
“Once he was freed, a sheet was used as a splint on his pelvis to reduce movement,” he said.
“An air splint was fitted to each leg and he was taken to Box Hill Hospital in a stable condition.”
Mr Bentley said the 28-year-old male passenger in the Honda had minor chest and leg injuries and was taken to Maroondah Hospital.
He said the 42-year-old woman driving the Ford Falcon was also initially trapped by her legs.
“She had severe neck pain so a brace was fitted in case she suffered any spinal injuries,” Mr Bentley said.
She was taken to Box Hill Hospital in a stable condition.
The road into Warburton didn’t open to traffic until about 9am.
Police are still investigating and said there was no evidence vehicles were speeding.
Drivers are reminded to take care and drive to the conditions on the road.
