In short:
Eleven people have died on Victorian roads in the past five days, bringing the state’s road toll to 114 so far this year.
A CFA captain says knowing those involved when attending a crash scene is every first responder’s “worst fear”.
What’s next?
The head of a road trauma counselling service has urged Victorians to drive with extra care, as though all road users are family members.
After a string of fatal crashes, Victorians are being urged to drive as if every car on the road contains a loved one.
Eleven people died on the state’s roads in the last five days, bringing this year’s road toll to 114.
Seven of the fatalities occurred in regional areas and the remainder in Melbourne and surrounding areas.
Two Trentham Country Fire Authority volunteers are among those being mourned following a two-car crash at Eganstown, near Daylesford, on Monday.
Crews from Daylesford CFA were called to the scene and brigade captain Glen Webster said it was a relief Trentham volunteers were not sent to the crash.
“Your mind immediately goes to, ‘Where are my loved ones at the moment? Are they heading back into Daylesford? Could it be them?'” he said.
“And when you turn up and you realise it is someone you know, it does make it more difficult.”
Later that day Daylesford crews were called to a second incident involving a man pinned under an excavator on a private property.
After several hours he was freed and taken to hospital — but the day was not over.
That evening the rescue team returned to the Midland Highway crash site to help remove the bodies from the wreckage.
Mr Webster said volunteers were only cleared to attend fatal incidents once they had built up some experience.
“I don’t let them move up into the rescue area until quite some time,” he said.
“I need to see … over a couple of years, that they are able to emotionally cope with that.”
Mr Webster said debriefings and peer support were provided to volunteers after traumatic jobs.
‘Ripple effect’ of road trauma
Bernadette Nugent, the chief executive of road trauma counselling and driver education not-for-profit Amber Community, said the toll of road incidents was especially acute in regional areas.
“The ripple effect of road trauma is far and wide,” she said.
“But if you live in a relatively small community, the likelihood is that the first responders, whether they be emergency services or just anyone who happens to be driving by, often know the people involved in the collision.
“It’s devastating … and it brings home how quickly life can change.”
Ms Nugent urged people to drive as if all other road users were loved ones.
“It’s about people taking individual responsibility, about, ‘How am I keeping myself safe, but also all of the other road users around me?'” Ms Nugent said.
“None of us want to lose people in our own families.”
Initial investigations by Victoria Police showed driver distraction and failing to heed a give-way or stop sign were among the causes of the recent crashes.
Mr Webster said speeding, driving under the influence and driver distraction were the three major causes of road trauma he had witnessed in his career.
“It’s so tempting to look at your phone for a second or two — you just can’t do that,” he said.
By Jean Bell and Olivia Sanders
