By Mitchell Clarke
A man has died and a woman and a child are fighting for life following a horror smash outside Gumbuya World.
Emergency services were called to the notorious Princes Highway intersection outside the theme park in Tynong North at about 5pm on Monday 25 January.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision but it’s understood a truck and a 4WD collided.
The driver of the 4WD tragically died at the scene while his two female passengers were both airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.
A woman in her 30s was taken to The Alfred and a primary school aged girl was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The injuries sustained haven’t been revealed by Ambulance Victoria.
The Princes Highway was closed outbound through Tynong North for much of the night and motorists were told to use Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road.
As reported by the Gazette in the past few years, frustrated motorists have long been calling on VicRoads (the Department of Transport) to take action.
Calls for a long term fix – like an overpass – to be constructed at Gumbuya World were reignited by motorists and truck drivers alike.
Following Monday night’s tragedy, a petition was launched to VicRoads for an overpass to be built at the intersection.
Within hours, it had already attracted almost 2000 signatures.
Petition organiser Krystal Clark wrote the intersection is “so dangerous”.
“The aim of this petition is to hopefully have a change made for the safety of everyone who travels within the area,” Ms Clark wrote.
“Gumbuya World is only going to get bigger and more popular there’s also a sand quarry situated near by and trucks using the intersection often.
“There has been multiple motor vehicle accidents already and we don’t want to see more incidents like this occur.”
Gumbuya World and the Department of Transport have both been contacted for comment.
