By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
POLICE have made an urgent plea for more information about a horror crash on the Monash Freeway over the weekend which claimed the life of a Narre Warren man, after barely any witnesses have come forward.
The 41-year-old man was driving outbound on the freeway near Ernst Wanke Road in Hallam when his Toyota sedan was hit from behind by a B-Double prime mover truck pulling two semi-trailers, about 4.20am on Saturday morning.
The Narre Warren sedan driver died at the scene and his identity has not been released.
The truck driver, a 45-year-old Traralgon man, sustained minimal injuries and was interviewed by detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit before being released pending further inquiries.
Detective Leading Senior Constable David Mair, from the collision unit and on scene immediately after the incident, said the circumstances surrounding the crash were still being investigated.
“At this stage all we know is that the prime mover and two semi-trailers were travelling eastbound on the Monash Freeway,” he said.
“Then the prime mover tapped the rear of the Toyota sedan.”
The Monash Freeway was closed until 2pm between the South Gippsland Highway and Ernst Wanke Road following the incident, with traffic diverted while police and SES attended the scene.
Det Mair said witnesses to the crash were scarce because there hadn’t been many people on the road at the time, and urged anyone with any information to come forward.
“A lot of people stopped after the collision occurred because there was a fair bit of debris on road, but there was not a great deal of traffic on the road itself when it happened,” he said.
“We’re appealing for any witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers and the message for drivers of any type of vehicle is to be alert at all times.”
The 2014 road toll has reached 131, with 13 more fatalities recorded than this time last year.
Anyone with information about the crash on Saturday is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
