Vic: Three survive "non survivable" accident

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2000
Vic: Three survive "non survivable" accident

MELBOURNE, Aug 28 AAP - Three people had survived a "virtually non-survivable" car
crash that killed three others as they returned home from a night out in country Victoria,
police said.

Inspector Chris Ferguson of the Major Collision Investigation Unit said it was a miracle
anyone survived the horrific two-car smash west of Melbourne last night.

"It was a high-impact collision and it was virtually non-survivable, and it is a miracle
that people have managed to live," he told reporters.

Insp Ferguson was referring to three passengers who survived the head-on smash - two
were taken to hospital with critical injuries and a third suffered minor injuries.

A 32-year-old dancing instructor and a 19-year-old who was one month short of his 20th
birthday were among those killed in what police described as "a very tragic accident".

Police are seeking a third vehicle whose occupants might be able to help them establish
the cause of the accident on the Midland Highway between Ballarat and Geelong about 7.45pm
(AEDT).

Insp Ferguson said they wanted to speak to the occupants of a white Commodore that
stopped at the scene of the crash.

The vehicle, fitted with L-plates, was overtaken by one of the crash cars just before
the accident, he said.

"We know for a fact one vehicle was overtaken by the north travelling vehicle and there's
a possibility there's a third vehicle involved from the point of view of the overtaking
manoeuvre," Insp Ferguson said.

He said both cars involved in the crash were travelling at the maximum speed of 100kph.

"Once again, it reflects the fact that people need to drive to the conditions. It was
raining at the time," he said.

"This collision occurred on a long, sweeping bend. Possibly speed may have been a factor
in this accident."

Asked his reaction to the accident in light of Victorian Premier Steve Bracks's challenge
to motorists last week to go one week without a road death, Insp Ferguson said: "Sadly,
this is the case and let's make it no more."

Killed in the crash were dancing instructor Peter John Dando, 32, of Geelong, who was
returning home from a class in Ballarat; local skating identity Brock Phelps, 19, of Ballarat,
who drove the other car; and his passenger Tristian Ives, 18, also of Ballarat.

AAP aj/jd/rs/br

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