Drivers 'sitting ducks' on deadly Western Highway stretch, resident says

A 16-kilometre stretch of the Western Highway between Stawell and Horsham has witnessed six fatalities over the past six years, according to state government records. Emergency services responded to another fatal truck crash in this critical area this week, where a driver lost control and collided with a tree, sustaining serious, yet non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver was airlifted to a hospital. Some nearby residents argue that the road's condition and high traffic volumes are contributing factors, while others suggest driver distraction may be the root cause. Ellie McDonald, a farmer whose property adjoins the hazardous stretch, believes that both elements are at play. The area, located between Melbourne and Adelaide, is becoming increasingly congested, exacerbating the issue.

McDonald believes that the combination of congestion and deteriorating roads creates a dangerous situation, with frequent near-misses as vehicles approach intersections. Victoria Police Sergeant Mathew Olston acknowledged the frequency of serious collisions in the region but stressed that no area is entirely safe from road accidents.

McDonald has petitioned VicRoads to reassess the speed limit on the highway. The Western Highway Action Committee, representing 10 municipalities in Victoria's west, claims the region has been neglected. Committee chairman Rod Ward calls for road upgrades and maintenance, urging the government to invest in the highway, which he labels as Australia's third-busiest straight route.

He also advocates for the continuation of the highway duplication at Buangor west towards Stawell. Ward insists that the lack of investment has directly contributed to multiple accidents. Over the past decade, the committee has documented 658 fatalities or severe injuries along the Western Highway.