Former footballer charged over Lara crash

Former Geelong footballer Ray Card has been charged following a fatal collision in Lara.

The 67-year-old Grovedale man was the driver of a utility vehicle that collided with a BMW car on the Geelong Ring Road at about 11.20pm on November 16.

Mr Card’s 57-year-old female passenger died at the scene while he was taken by road ambulance to The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Victoria Police said Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives charged Mr Card with culpable driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death on Tuesday, November 19.

A Magistrates Court of Victoria spokesperson told the Independent that Mr Card was bailed to appear before Geelong Magistrates’ Court on November 26.

An Ambulance Victoria (AV) spokesperson told the Independent that the driver of the BMW, a 23-year-old Lara man, was 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.

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.”