Five dead after three fatal crashes on regional roads ahead of Christmas in Victoria

The crash at Howlong near Albury yesterday tragically claimed the life of a man and woman. (Nine)

A woman and teenage girl are dead after a serious car crash in Victoria’s south-west.
The driver of a Holden Trax – a 16-year-old girl – and the front seat passenger, a 43-year-old woman, both from Mount Richmond died at the scene.
A 15-year-old girl in the rear passenger seat sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital.

The driver of a Jeep involved in the crash, a 50-year-old man, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Superintendent Martin Harvey said the accident would have a wide-reaching effect.
“There’s going to be two less people at the Christmas table as a result of this collision,” he said.
“This particular collision will have impacts for a very long time for this area down here in Portland.”

Superintendent Hardy said it was a tragic reminder to go back to basics and slow down, and avoid distractions like phones and the radio.
The circumstances of the crash are unknown and under investigation.
The double fatality comes on the same day as a three-car crash this afternoon in Gippsland which saw one man die at the scene.

Police believe three cars collided on the Princes Highway about 1.20pm.
A woman from another car suffered life-threatening injuries and has been airlifted to a Melbourne hospital.
Three people in the third vehicle were uninjured.
The shocking toll on Christmas eve follows another double fatality on the roads yesterday near Albury in the state’s north-east.
Emergency Services were called to the Riverina Highway in Howlong, 30km west of Albury, about 4.45pm after reports a Toyota Yaris and a Toyota Landcruiser had collided head-on.
The Yaris driver, a 62-year-old man, and a 54-year-old female passenger died at the scene.

A second passenger, an 81-year-old man, was freed after being trapped, and treated by paramedics and taken to Albury Base Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.
The Landcruiser driver, a 38-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Albury Base Hospital.
The exact causes of the crash are being investigated and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

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