Woman dead, cyclists left injured police calling for help

Jessica Benton
POLICE are hunting a hit and run driver and witnesses to a fatal smash after two recent accidents on Geelong roads.
Two Geelong cyclists were left injured after an alleged hit-run driver knocked them off their bikes at Mount Duneed, while an elderly Leopold woman died in hospital after her car collided with another vehicle at Moolap.
Police have called for public help with both investigations.
Cyclists David Blackborrow and Tom Ainsworth were riding along Surf Coast Highway early Saturday morning when a white sedan struck them as it turned left into Mount Duneed Road.
Mr Blackborrow called for motorists to show more respect for cyclists.
“What I’m afraid of is that drivers like the one that hit us get a meagre slap on the wrist when caught, then they’re back on the road inside six to 12 months thanks to our politically correct society and apologetic legal system,” he said.
“I cannot speculate as to the condition the driver was in but cycling incidents like this are on the rise.
“With more people riding bicycles each year and more distractions in cars like mobile phones and GPS systems, things could get worse before getting better for cyclists.
“If anything can come from this incident that’s positive, Tom and I would like to see more awareness of the dangers presented to cyclists.”
Geelong Police Constable Tracey Van Looy said a “person of interest” had been interviewed over the hit-run but charges had yet to be laid.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the 86-year-old Leopold woman died after a two-car collision at the intersection of Bellarine Highway and Moolap Station Road.
The woman was a passenger in a white Hyundai with a 53-year-old male driver when a black Toyota Corolla ran into the back of their stationary vehicle, the spokesperson said.
A 19-year-old man was driving the Toyota.
The critically injured woman later died in Geelong Hospital, the police spokesperson said. The 53-year-old and a 19-year-old male passenger suffered minor injuries.
Police asked anyone with information about the accident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au