That brings our live coverage of the Wantirna South crash to an end for today.
For further updates on this tragic story, you can head here.
Signing off
By Hannah Hammoud
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This was published 8 months ago
Wantirna South crash as it happened: Police probe whether speed a factor after one killed, two injured in crash near playground
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What happened today
By Hannah Hammoud and Alexander Darling
A woman has died and a young boy and man have been seriously injured after being struck by a car driven by an elderly woman who lost control in Melbourne’s outer east.
The incident occurred around 12.20pm on Thursday on Coleman Road in Wantirna South, when a 91-year-old driver lost control of her silver hatchback, hitting three pedestrians and crashing through a playground fence.
Paramedics treated all three victims at the scene. The woman died, while the man was transported to The Alfred Hospital in critical condition. A child, aged between three and four years old, is receiving treatment for serious injuries at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Police cordoned off several blocks around the park where the car remains wedged against a park bench near the children’s playground inside Coleman Reserve.
Out-of-control car filmed on CCTV moments after crash
By Alexander Darling
The Age has obtained footage that appears to show the car involved in the crash.
The CCTV footage from a house on Coleman Road shows a silver hatchback travelling on the north side of the road, with a hubcap believed to be from the front left wheel seen rolling after it.
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The footage also shows what appears to be a family walking with a pram in the opposite direction just before the time of the accident.
The Age is yet to confirm the people in the video were involved in the accident.
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Crash ‘out of the ordinary’ for suburban street
By Alexander Darling
Samuel Chen first heard about the accident on social media, and then contacted his parents who live right near the crash site.
“Mum picked up the phone, and she told me that they weren’t sure what had happened, but basically the lady who was driving the vehicle knocked on [her] door and asked whether she could use [their] toilet,” he said.
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“I think this is right after the incident, and the lady was with one of her close relatives or emergency contact. She came to use the toilet and the emergency response personnel were there, they came in, and then they left after a bit.
“[Mum] said she was just bleeding from the leg, but nothing very serious.”
Ambulance CEO praises emergency services
By Alexander Darling
Newly appointed Ambulance Victoria chief executive Jordan Emery described the crash in Wantirna South as a “shocking incident.”
“I’m incredibly proud of our people who attended that incident,” Emery told 3AW.
“I’ve been fortunate to speak to one of the managers who attended the case and supported our crews after that case, we sent 10 resources to a number of patients, we’ve transported two of those patients to hospital. The team have done a remarkable job, but obviously very tragic situation there.”
Federal MP Mary Doyle, whose seat of Aston covers Wantirna South, offered her condolences to those involved via social media, writing, “My thoughts are with the families affected and the Wantirna South community. Thank you to the emergency service workers and bystanders who attended the scene.”
Knox council mayor Lisa Cooper also spoke out, and said council was “extremely saddened” by the incident.
“Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the person who has died, and our thoughts are with those who were injured and all of those impacted by this tragedy,” she said.
Chicanes to form part of investigation
By Grant McArthur
The section of Coleman Road where the crash occurred features traffic management chicanes intended to slow traffic.
Police said it is not yet clear if the driver had struck or attempted to avoid the chicanes before mounting the footpath.
Police are still investigating whether the incident will be considered a high-speed crash.
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Crash ‘an absolute tragedy’
By Hannah Hammoud
Police are still working to identify whether the three people hit on the footpath are family.
Speaking at the scene on Thursday afternoon, superintendent Justin Goldsmith said it was possible that both the man and woman who were hit are aged between 30 and 40.
“It’s an absolute tragedy,” he said.
“We’re thankful that nobody else has been injured,” he said.
Police investigating whether speed was a factor in crash
By Hannah Hammoud
Police are still investigating the speed at which an elderly female was driving before hitting three people in Wantirna South.
“It is a downhill section of road, so if there has been a lack of control to some degree, there is a possibility that the car would have picked up speed as it streamed down,” superintendent Justin Goldsmith said.
“We don’t have enough information to say that it’s a high-speed crash or that speed is a contributing factor at this stage.”
Elderly woman identified as driver
By Hannah Hammoud
An elderly woman behind the wheel of a Toyota Yaris that crashed through a playground in Wantirna South has been taken to hospital.
Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said the 91-year-old driver struck a couple, leaving one dead, and a young boy aged between three and four-years-old in hospital with life-threatening injuries.
From the couple, a woman has died as a result of the crash, and a man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Goldsmith said the woman lost control near the intersection of Coleman Road and Bindi Street before mounting the footbath and hitting three people.
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Watch: Police speak from site of Wantirna South crash
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Victoria Police have just provided an update from the scene. Rewatch the press conference in full below:
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