It has been a deadly weekend on the state’s roads following fatal crashes in Lara and Meredith.
Victoria Police said Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision on Saturday, November 16, in Lara.
Emergency services were called after a utility vehicle collided with a BMW car on the Geelong Ring Road at about 11.20pm.
The passenger of the utility, a 57-year-old Grovedale woman, died at the scene, with the 67-year-old male driver from Grovedale taken by road ambulance to The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
An Ambulance Victoria (AV) spokesperson told the Independent that the drivers of the utility and BMW, a 23-year-old Lara man, were in a stable condition.
They also said BMW’s 19-year-old female passenger from Lovely Banks was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition with upper body injuries.
Police will also investigate a fatal crash in Meredith on Saturday, November 16, that led to the death of a 21-year-old Mount Helen man.
Emergency services responded to reports that a car crashed into a tree on Meredith-Mount Mercer Road at around 11.15pm and found the driver dead at the scene.
An AV spokesperson said the vehicle’s passenger, a woman in her 20s, was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition with upper body injuries.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said 250 people have died on the state’s roads this year as of midnight on November 17, just nine lower than the same time last year.
“We’ve seen 18 fatalities in 17 days during November, which is extremely concerning,” they said.
“Police are always on the lookout for risky driving behaviour, and we won’t hesitate to penalise and hold to account those who put other road users at risk.
“As we head into the end of year, we cannot afford to be complacent on our roads…and we ask everyone to prioritise safety when getting behind the wheel.”
Anyone who witnessed or have footage of the incidents in Lara or Meredith should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au