The crash which caused the death of a 25-year-old man in Yellingbo has prompted calls to investigate the safety of Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road.
It came after an investigation into the death of Stefan Andrew Barthelot was delivered by the Coroners Court on 18 November.
After analysing the circumstances of Mr Barthelot’s death, which occurred on 29 September 2024, Coroner Simon McGregor concluded road conditions were likely the reason for Mr Barthelot losing control of his vehicle.
Mr McGregor’s report recommended the Department of Transport and Planning to consider whether repairs and improvements need to be made to the road surface, if safety/warning signage should be erected at the location, and if the speed limit should be reduced.
Mr Barthelot was heading southbound on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road in Yellingbo when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed to the northbound lanes and hit a concrete power pole.
Despite paramedics arriving on scene within roughly five minutes of the crash, he was unable to be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at 6.30pm.
Mr Barthelot was in good health with no known mental health conditions and no substantial history of driving offences.
The motor mechanic would often drive on “mountain runs” with no planned route.
Coronial Investigator Leading Senior Constable Curran inspected the vehicle and found unroadworthy modifications to the car’s air intake system.
Mr Curran also determined the tyres’s tread to be past their wear indicators, attributing this as a factor which lead to the crash.
But a report from principal forensics engineer Dr Shane Richardson rebuked Mr Curran’s claim about the tyre tread as no evidence was provided to show the tyres were worn past its indicators.
Dr Richardson is the managing director and owner of Delta V Experts, a business specialising in accident reconstruction.
He concluded the friction of the road was likely below the VicRoads skid resistance levels and that the road surface, speed limit and lack of signage were key contributing factors to the cause of the collision.
Dr Richardson supplied a statement from a local who lives at the crash site.
“Since living here, I have never been so terrified of roads in all my life, given the poor condition and ridiculous speed limits imposed on narrow roads with tight bends and multiple driveway entries,” they said.
