Two more crashes follow first

By Sarah Schwager
A CAR crash caused two further crashes in the space of 10 minutes on a dark Five Ways road last Friday.
Sergeant Pat McGavigan from Casey TMU said two cars collided on the intersection of South Gippsland Highway and Fisheries Road about 7.20pm.
He said a 2005 Peugeot sedan, driven by a 57-year-old Rye woman, with a 58-year-old Rye man in the passenger seat, faced a give-way sign when it collided with a north-bound ute on the South Gippsland Highway.
The 1996 Holden ute was driven by 21-year-old Ringwood East man, with a 16-year-old Doncaster East male passenger.
A four-wheel-drive then stopped to help, pulling up in the north-bound lane facing south with its headlights on.
Sgt McGavigan said that at 7.25pm a 44-year-old Wonthaggi driver of a Holden, with two passengers, a 36-year-old Wonthaggi woman and their 18-month-old son, was blinded by the headlights, swerved around the car and collided with a car in the first collision. At 7.30pm the ute was again struck, by a 2004 Holden Astra sedan driven by a 27-year-old Altona man with a 27-year-old male passenger, also from Altona.
No one was hurt.
Sgt McGavigan said people had to be careful after any car crash or if they were stopping to help.
“The important thing here is that the second two collisions were caused by someone who thought they were trying to assist,” he said.
He urged anyone involved in a crash to switch on their hazard lights and warn people as best as they could, but not to face their lights towards traffic.
“Then get away from the cars in case they are struck,” Sgt McGavigan said.
“This is what happened in this case. The people were away from their cars so only the property was damaged and the people were OK. But we still ended up with three collisions in the space of 10 minutes.”
He said people helping out in any car incident should make their own safety their primary importance. “Before helping someone else people must make sure they are safe themselves,” he said.
Anyone who can help with the investigation can contact Senior Constable Linda Smallbones at Casey TMU on 9705 3176.