By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
A DANDENONG woman was killed in a collision involving a B-double truck on the Melba Highway in Dixon’s Creek on Sunday.
Police believe a semi-trailer heading north jack-knifed about 8.20pm, causing it to collide with two vehicles heading in the opposite direction.
Emergency services members who attended the scene said the trailer rolled up the hill, over a Nissan Navara that was towing a horse float and into a Mitsubishi van.
A Dandenong woman aged in her 50s, the van’s sole occupant, died at the scene.
A 29-year-old woman from Pakenham Upper and her passenger, a 21-year-old Berwick woman, were trapped in the four-wheel drive.
It’s believed all three were heading home from the Albury Wodonga International Horse Trials.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said the Pakenham Upper woman was trapped for several hours and suffered a leg injury and her passenger was trapped for an hour with a spinal injury.
Paramedics stabilised her at the scene and took both to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
One horse died at the scene and a local ranger euthanized the other.
The truck driver, a 41-year-old Swan Hill man, was taken to The Alfred hospital in a serious condition with spinal injuries.
First Constable Suzanne Harvey from Kinglake police said there were numerous incidents along that part of the road, but no more than anywhere else.
A police spokesman said heavy vehicles had a great responsibility on the road.
“This is the second crash in a number of days involving a heavy vehicle,” he said.
“We implore upon people to take care on the roads, in particular heavy transport employees and their vehicles.”
Police urged anyone who witnessed the collision to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
