Cheer turns to fear

By Monique Ebrington
Paramedic Greg Savage described the scene as “chaotic”, with two cars destroyed and one man unconscious and trapped in one of them.
Major Crash Investigation Unit Leading Senior Constable Matt Hunt said it appeared the driver of a Commodore sedan, travelling west on Queens Road, drove through a stop sign.
“A 4×4 utility travelling south on Wandin East Road collided with the driver’s side of the Commodore,” Sen Const Hunt said.
“The driver’s side door sustained the most amount of damage.”
Paramedic Mr Savage said the 29-year-old driver of the Commodore suffered serious head injuries and needed to be cut free by SES and CFA members.
“Once freed intensive care paramedics put a drip in his arm and gave him some drugs to sedate and paralyse him, placing him into an induced coma,” Mr Savage said.
“A tube was then inserted deep into his airway and we took over breathing for him.”
The Brunswick man was then flown, by air ambulance, to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition.
Mr Savage said the man’s three passengers also required medical assistance at the scene.
“A 33-year-old woman lost consciousness at the scene but was otherwise uninjured,” he said.
She was flown to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition.
The two other passengers, a man and a woman aged in their early 30s, were taken to Maroondah Hospital in a stable condition.
The 44-year-old Wandin East driver of the 4×4 suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Maroondah Hospital, in a stable condition.
Sen Const Hunt said the crash was a stark reminder that drivers needed to take care on the roads this festive season.
“Drivers need to be aware of their surroundings; they can’t afford to become complacent on the road,” he Hunt said.
“Whether it’s Christmas or the end of the year, everyone needs to be safe on the roads these holidays.
“I hope that everyone can get together for Christmas, and not be left with one empty seat.”