Fifth fatal for year

By Jade Lawton
SPEED may have contributed to a horrific smash in Nar Nar Goon on Saturday night.
A 19-year-old Elsternwick man was killed instantly when his car hit a tree on the Old Princes Highway at 7pm.
Police believe he was not wearing a seatbelt.
The fatality is the fifth road death in the Cardinia Shire this year – already above the 2009 road toll of four.
Sergeant Nigel Atkins, of Cardinia’s Highway Patrol Unit, said the man was driving east in a 2008 Volkswagen Passat station wagon when he collided with a tree near Mt Ararat Road.
“The male driver, the sole occupant of the car, was ejected from the vehicle. The engine of the car was found 15 metres away and debris was across the carriageway,” Sgt Atkins said.
A second car travelling in the same direction collided with some of the debris, but the driver was not injured.
The road was blocked for several hours.
Sgt Atkins said he was dismayed at Cardinia’s rising road toll.
“Just 15 hours later on Sunday morning, a 25-year-old Lang Lang man was caught travelling north onDalmore Road, Dalmore, at 150km/h. His car was impounded and he was charged with driving at a speeddangerous to the public,” Sgt Atkins said.
“I am dismayed by the sheer neglect and irresponsible behaviour of some drivers. They are a road menace and we will continue a zero tolerance approach.”
Sgt Atkins urged drivers to take care.
Police believe the Volkswagen may have been overtaking other cars before the smash.
Anyone who saw the car should contact Leading Senior Constable Peter Henderson or Sergeant Nigel Atkins at Cardinia’s Highway Patrol on 6945 2545.