By BEN CAMERON
A GARFIELD North family of six have endured two close calls in just over two months after a second car crashed into their front yard.
Mother of four Ash Kelly said her partner woke early on Friday 14 November to discover a car had broken through the front gate just before 6am.
Both family cars are close to write-offs after a 40-year-old male driver allegedly crashed into the property via Brew Road between late Thursday night and early Friday morning.
“It’s been horrible,” she said.
“I’ve got four kids, I don’t have a lot. I have two stuffed cars and an unemployed partner, I may take legal action.”
The impact of the crash shunted the family’s 4WD into their other car which was parked several metres behind it in the front driveway.
She said a 40-year-old man from Warragul was behind the wheel.
“He was blind drunk,” she said.
“He refused a tow. He didn’t leave until about midday. He tried to be nice and be our friend.
“We told him we wanted it out by the weekend.”
She said the man returned to fix the rear door of the 4WD on Sunday, and collected his car last Friday, but had yet to pay for any damage.
It’s the second similar crash in just over two months after a female driver left the Princes Highway on 7 September and damaged a road sign and several panels of the family’s front fence at approximately 4am.
“We had a really intense noise,” Ms Kelly said, waking to see headlights in the front yard.
“She (the driver) was unconscious, but she eventually did a runner after I called the ambulance.
“People say it should only happen once in your life, not twice.”
Ms Kelly called for safety measures to be put in place at the end of Brew Road which essentially runs into her front driveway.
“I would like to see rumble strips, or street lights or more signs installed,” she said.
“What’s next? Will they clean up my kids who are playing in the front yard next?”
Cardinia Shire Council Manager Assets and Development Paul Richardson said: “The intersection of Garfield North Road with the unnamed service road for Princes Freeway has not recorded an accident trend, based on Victoria crash statistics.
“Council has assessed the intersection and has determined that changes to sign placement may improve driver awareness of the approaching intersection,” he said.
“As with any traffic controls, it is the responsibility of the road user to follow the road rules.”
VicRoads declined to comment and said it was a Cardinia Shire Council matter.
Pakenham police were unable to confirm the details of the incident.
