Toddler and tot escape car fire

By Rebecca Fraser
A TODDLER and a baby had a narrow escape from death on Tuesday when the car they were in flipped over and burst into flames.
A tyre blow-out caused the four-wheel-drive vehicle to crash on the Monash Freeway between Hallam-Belgrave and Ernst Wanke Roads about 2.35pm, causing traffic chaos along the busy stretch of road.
Senior Constable Ken Noven, of Casey Traffic Management Unit, said the young pair and their 34-year-old mother from Armadale were lucky to be alive following the incident.
“The tyre blew out and she hit the brakes and then pulled left in a violent manner and the 4WD then tilted over and rolled onto its roof.
“It then dug in and flipped again hitting the sound barrier and then spinning around and landing on its roof,” he said.
Sen Const Noven said the mother and her two children were able to get out of the car before it burst into flames.
The 10-week-old was airlifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital yesterday with head injuries and Sen Const Noven said she had been knocked unconscious during the accident.
He said the older child had also been taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital by road for a precautionary check up.
The mother was taken to The Alfred Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Sen Const Noven said the accident had caused a major traffic problem and cars were banked back to Warrigal Road.