Day of tragedy claims two lives from region

Erin Pearson
TWO Geelong region families are in mourning after separate tragedies killed two men on Wednesday morning.
A 57-year-old Newcomb truck driver died in West Melbourne when a log hit him as he loaded a semi-trailer.
The other man died after a street-sweeping vehicle hit him on Cape Otway Road near Wurdee Boluc Reserovoir.
WorkSafe Victoria spokesman Michael Birt said Newcomb man died about 7am at a Docklands timber export facility.
“The truck driver from Geelong was undoing two straps holding timber to the truck and a log about four metres long and 21 centimetres across fell off and hit him,” Mr Birt said.
“We will now look into the systems that were in place to see whether the vehicle was loaded correctly and whether he had the right device to secure the load.”
Mr Birt said loads falling from vehicles were “unfortunately fairly common sorts of accidents”.
“The big issue for us is that people in the transport industry need to take great care when loads are shifted.
“We’ve seen 12 deaths in the last three months of last year across the state. People are coming into this very busy time so we must make sure employers have the right systems in place.”
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the man died at the scene.
Winchelsea Police Sergeant John Rowley said the man who collided with the street sweeper also died at the scene.
Officers were investigating how he ended up in the path of the sweeper as it travelled east in a 100km/zone.
“It appears the gentleman has stepped out in front of the truck as it was driving along Cape Otway Road near the Barwon Water establishment,” Sgt Rowley said.
“This is not an area where pedestrians typically are, so we’re investigating.”
Sgt Rowley said the vehicle was travelling “well-under” the speed limit.
“The man appears to have ventured onto the road in front of the sweeper when he was hit.”