AN Enfield couple has called for action on a notorious bend after a logging truck rolled over yesterday.
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Kevin and Colleen Rowlands live on a Ballarat-Colac Road bend at the entrance to Enfield, and said yesterday’s truck rollover was the third outside their home in six years.
The couple can also recall eight other car accidents on the bend, including a double fatality in 2001.
Mr Rowland blamed the poor quality of the road and a 100km/h zone for the frequency of incidents.
“People in the area know the corner is notorious for car and truck rollovers,” Mr Rowlands said.
“On the camber there is a dip in the road I believe is caused by an underground culvert, which causes trucks to sway and at 100km/h they lose control.
“Even a speed reduction to 80km/h would be an advantage, because they won’t have the speed to sway and lose control.”
Mr Rowlands said VicRoads had to take action to prevent future incidents.
VicRoads regional director William Tieppo said the incident was being investigated.
He said VicRoads only had one recorded crash at the site. In April 2010 a B-double truck ran off the road but no-one was injured.
“VicRoads regularly inspects the arterial road network, including the Colac-Ballarat Road, to ensure all roads are in a safe condition and will develop road safety initiatives where required,” Mr Tieppo said.
“In most cases, maintenance crews are able to carry out repairs quickly after a hazard is reported.”
The truck driver involved in yesterday’s rollover, Chris Mahoney, said his vehicle was travelling at 90km/h in a 100km/h zone with 38 tonnes of logs on the trailer before becoming caught in the ditch on the side of the road.
Mr Mahoney was lucky to only receive bruising from the seatbelt, and was in high spirits.
“I just came around the bend and in the corner of my eye I could see the trailer wave behind the truck,” he said.
“Then the cabin just went over.”
Three police units were at the scene and diverted traffic along the side of the road before it was reopened at 12.30pm.
Rokewood police Senior Constable Bryan Vincent said inquiries were being made into the circumstances of the rollover.
