Driver survives mangled mess

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
EMERGENCY workers turned up to a “mangled mess” last week when a Commodore and a concrete pump truck collided on a notorious stretch of Warburton Highway.
The incident happened just before noon on Friday 22 June on the corner of Warburton Highway and Russell Road, leaving the motor and gear box ejected from the silver Commodore and thrown in different directions across the highway.
The 39-year-old driver of the Commodore had to be cut from his vehicle by the Wandin Rescue crew and was flown to The Alfred hospital suffering back injuries and a cut to the head.
Wandin CFA fourth lieutenant Tim Michelson, who was taking care of the road accident rescue, said when they came upon the scene the pumper truck was facing towards Seville and the Commodore was facing towards Wandin.
“The motor had been ejected and the gear box – the whole front was torn out of it,” he said.
“It was quite scary to look at… it was a mangled mess.
“We had a very good outcome for when we first pulled up there.”
He said the rescue crew and paramedics had the driver out of the car within the hour.
The traffic was blocked for a while before cars were diverted until the clean up was complete.
Also on scene were police and a crew from Seville CFA.