The region has been rocked by three road deaths in less than a month, with two in just four days.
Golden Plains Shire mayor Sarah Hayden spoke out this week regarding calls from the community for improved road safety following the death of Caleb Levi Wesley, 6, on March 27.
Caleb was walking to school with his older siblings, aged 9 and 12, when he was hit by a car just after 8am while crossing Bannockburn-Shelford Road to catch a bus. He died at the scene.
An 84-year-old woman was allegedly driving the car and fled the scene after stopping briefly following the incident. She was located and arrested by Victoria Police and later released pending further inquiries.
Ms Hayden said she understood the “community’s distress following the recent road fatality in Teesdale” but that council would not comment further while investigations continued.
“We express our deepest condolences to the family and commend the local community on its continued support for the family and each other,” she said.
“Council will not be drawn into public commentary or inappropriate private correspondence while investigations into the incident are underway.
“We assure the community that we are actively working respectfully and diligently behind the scenes and will continue to engage with relevant agencies in the appropriate way.”
The statement followed a farewell for Caleb on Saturday, April 5, at his Bell Post Hill school, Covenant College, which was attended by hundreds of mourners.
A 32-year-old Norlane man died while travelling along Hamilton Highway, west of Geelong, when his vehicle left the road and struck a tree just after 8.30pm on Thursday, April 3.
Another death was recorded on Sunday, April 6, when emergency services responded to reports of a car crashing into a tree on Steiglitz-She Oaks Road, northwest of Geelong, at about 8pm.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Caleb’s family, raising over $27,200 as of 4pm on Tuesday, April 8. Visit gofundme.com/f/loving-memory-of-caleb-wesley-a-tragic-loss to donate.
