FOUR in a month, six in eight weeks and 16 for the calendar year. That is the dreadful reality facing Ballarat's emergency services who have had to attend yet another fatal crash in the region.
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In a freak accident, a 53-year-old Drouin woman was killed on Saturday afternoon after she had stopped on the right hand side of the Western Freeway near Gordon.
While investigations are continuing, it is thought that the woman may have pulled over on the right hand side of the highway to attend to wildlife which had strayed onto the road.
EARLIER COVERAGE: Drouin woman dies in freeway crash
A 70-year-old man, the passenger in the car was out of the vehicle at the time when another car, driven by a 20-year-old Ballarat East woman hit the stationary vehicle. The impact of the crash turned the stationary vehicle around.
The 20-year-old suffered minor injuries and she was transported to St John of God Hospital, while the 70-year-old man was uninjured.
Senior Sergeant Stuart Gale said it was shattering for all emergency services to have to attend another tragic scene.
"We have been imploring drivers to take care on our roads, you need to concentrate and be aware of your surroundings," Senior Sergeant Gale said.
"What do we have to do to shock drivers into knowing that a vehicle can cause untold damage?
"Emergency services are constantly having to battle with this, we just don't know what to do."
Senior Sergeant Gale said there was no doubt that since COVID-19 restrictions had eased, road trauma had climbed.
He said his staff alone from the Ballarat Traffic Management Unit had now been at the scene of 16 fatal crashes this year.
"It takes a toll on all emergency services," he said. "We have been imploring people to be safe, concentrate on what you are doing, you are driving something that is a weapon."
Senior Sergeant Gale said it is understood a number of cars were in the vicinity at the time of the crash and he asked all witnesses to come forward with any dashcam footage, or any details they may have regarding the crash.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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