POLICE have pleaded for motorists to drive at or below 40 kilometres an hour when temperatures hit freezing after multiple cars slid off roads causing mayhem on the weekend.
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Police were called to a number of accidents as vehicles careered off the road, into barriers and onto grass as black ice turned major highways and city roads into ice skating rinks. The worst was a double fatality just before 8am on Saturday in Daylesford. The crash left four children orphaned. Swan Hill parents Michael, 41, and Jo Glare, 39, were killed instantly when police believe their Commodore hit black ice on the Midland Highway, skidded and struck a tree.
Their 18-year-old daughter was transferred to Ballarat Base Hospital with facial lacerations. At the scene Bacchus Marsh Sergeant Robert Pama said “treacherous conditions” had resulted in a number of collisions nearby. Ms Glare, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, was abiding by the 100 km/h speed limit, police say. However motorists have been urged to slow down.
“The conditions (on Saturday morning) were fairly treacherous. They were below zero and at this stage we believe there was black ice in the area, a significant contributing factor to this accident,” Sergeant Pama said.
Police will investigate the adequacy of warning signs in the area and other changes needed to be made given the frequency of black ice.
“It astounded me (on Saturday) morning to see people overtaking police cars with our blue lights flashing. We were going 40-50 km/h an hour and we were still slipping on our roads,” Sergeant Pama said. “When you are driving in these conditions you have to be aware of it.” ”Black ice, it is not easily observed, it will take a car that weighs a tonne and half off the road easily,” Sergeant Pama said.
Ballarat police Senior Sergeant Neale Robinson urged motorists to adjust their speed limits for the week ahead.
He said numerous police units were patrolling, warning drivers of black ice on Saturday. He stressed poor conditions were not limited to major highways.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics attended a number of collisions over the weekend caused by black ice.
Just before 6am on Sunday paramedics transported two teenagers to Ballarat Base Hospital.
They received minor injuries when the car they were travelling in slid off the Western Highway overpass near Warrenheip. The teen’s mother said the boys were in a taxi when the accident occurred.
Senior Sergeant Robinson said “horrendous conditions” resulted in police being called to “numerous collisions” in Dana Street, Midland HIghway, the Western Freeway, Wendouree, Victoria Park and other areas.” “It impacted a lot of people,” Senior Sergeant Robinson said.
“We consistently see people travelling at a reasonable speed impacted.”
VicRoads Regional Director Ewen Nevett said drivers must travel with caution and travel at or below 40 km/h in freezing conditions.
“VicRoads will review the findings of the investigation of this crash to determine any changes that may be needed to improve safety in the area,” Mr Nevett said.
Electronic ice warning signs are in known high risk locations such as the Midland Highway between Blampied and Daylesford, on the Ballarat side of Daylesford, and on the Western Highway near Gordon. Static "slippery when wet" signs are used elsewhere to warn motorists at other higher risk locations.
Mr Nevett said the speed limit changes close to the crash site due to the approach to the township of Daylesford.
There are no plans to review the speed limit at this location however VicRoads will review the findings of the investigation of this crash determine any possible changes that may be needed to improve safety in the area.
A gofundme page has been set up by the Swan Hill community to raise money for the orphaned Glare children. Mr and Ms Glare were speedway members and heading to Melton at the time.