Head-on smash

By Kath Gannaway
EMERGENCY workers at the scene of a fatal crash at Healesville last week described the scene as a war zone.
The collision between a sedan travelling towards Healesville on Maroondah Highway and a log truck heading out of town in the early hours of Wednesday morning resulted in tragedy for two local families.
Peter Caras, a Badger Creek father of a teenage boy and the driver of the car, died at the scene. The truck driver, John Donkin, also a family man from Badger Creek, sustained serious leg injuries.
Police, ambulance, SES and CFA workers were confronted with a horrific scene – both vehicles crushed in the high-impact collision, Mr Donkin trapped down a steep embankment in the cabin of his truck, and 32 tons of saw-logs strewn along the highway.
Senior Constable Ray Cook of Lilydale Police said the accident happened about 1.40am between the Healesville Kooweerup Road and the Yarra River.
“The indications are that the car has crossed over right into the path of the oncoming truck,” Sen Const Cook told the Mail.
He said given the 100km/h speed limit on that section of highway, police believe excessive speed was not a factor in the crash.
Sen Const Cook said the truck had travelled out of control for 80 metres after the collision before crashing off the road into a group of trees. The top of the cabin was sheered off by a branch as it hurtled down the embankment.
Healesville SES volunteers worked for 40 minutes alongside Healesville paramedics to free Mr Donkin who was taken to Maroondah Hospital for treatment.
Sen Const Cook said a tragic situation could have been even worse.
“The truck driver is an incredibly lucky bloke,” he said.
“He has sustained serious leg injury but he survived and, considering the impact, survived fairly well.
“Another lucky thing was that there were no other cars on the road at that time.
“The truck would have spat the load all over the top of anything either in front of or following it and we could have been dealing with an even worse situation.”
Sen Const Cook commended the work done by all the emergency services.
“You had a crash scene of almost 200 metres so it required a fairly big effort and everyone involved did a good job in the dark and the fog,” he said.
“The police certainly appreciate the efforts put in by the SES and CFA volunteers who did a great job.”
The highway was closed from shortly after the crash to around 10am as a logging truck retrieved the logs.
The Major Collision Investigation Unit is investigating the crash and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to the crash to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au.