Wyndham police say it was “pure luck” that they were not called to a triple fatality last Saturday night after a car carrying three children who were unrestrained crashed into a power pole and through a set of iron gates.
The accident happened on Cherry Lane, Laverton North, about 6.50pm.
Police believe the station wagon, driven by an unlicensed Shepparton man, 28, was travelling about 120km/h in a 60km/h zone when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
Acting Sergeant Graeme Crouch said the car crashed into a power pole before sliding over a large rock and through a set of iron gates. It stopped 48 metres from the initial impact.
Police allege that the car was carrying three children, aged between four and 10, who were unrestrained.
Acting Sergeant Crouch said one of the children was sitting in the rear luggage compartment of the station wagon, while the other two were sitting on the back seat.
Three adults in the car were all wearing seatbelts.
The children were taken to hospital for assessment.
Police said the driver returned a breath test reading of .037. The blood alcohol limit for an unlicensed driver is 00.
The driver was arrested and charged with conduct endangering life, driving in a manner dangerous, driving at a dangerous speed, exceeding the speed limit, unlicensed driving, drink-driving and three counts of allowing a child under 16 to be unrestrained.
He will face court at a later date.
Acting Sergeant Crouch said police were concerned by the number of drivers continuing to speed on Wyndham’s roads.
On September 2, police caught three drivers in about five hours driving at more than 15km/h over the speed limit.
In one case, a Werribee man, 22, was allegedly driving at 103km/h in a 70km/h zone along Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing. He was charged with drugs, weapons and traffic offences and bailed to appear in court.
“It is quite common to catch people in the 15-24-kilometre-over bracket each day,” Acting Sergeant Crouch said.
