A man sustained serious injuries after crashing into a tree near Daylesford on Wednesday morning, just a week after another serious crash in the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A silver van smashed into a tree on Daylesford-Malmsbury Road at Wheatsheaf - about eight kilometres east of Daylesford - about 11.30am.
Three Country Fire Authority brigades from Daylesford and Glenlyon responded to the incident.
Arriving at the scene, they found the young man and sole occupant trapped in the vehicle. It took the rescue crews about two hours to extricate him.
The man, believed to be aged in his early 20s, was airlifted to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne in a critical condition.
He had sustained "significant lower leg injuries and a head injury", according to police.
Senior Constable Jeremy Freckleton, from Daylesford Police Station, said the man was from interstate.
The car was fitted with New South Wales number plates.
He was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
While investigations are ongoing, Senior Constable Freckleton said fatigue would be investigated as a potential factor in the crash.
It comes after another serious collision last week - a two-car collision near Blampied.
It occurred at the intersection of Daylesford-Clunes Road and Mays Road about 10.20am last Wednesday.
One person was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious condition with upper body injuries. The other was taken to Ballarat Base Hospital in a stable condition.
By this time last year, two lives had been lost on roads in Hepburn Shire.
Senior Constable Freckleton said police didn't want to see any more lives lost on the region's roads.
"Slow down and be careful. Understand your ability and the car's ability and follow the road rules."
He said it was also important to mitigate fatigue by taking regular breaks.
The crash is being investigated by the Moorabool Highway Patrol.
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.