More hit-run incidents in Victoria
Posted by admin on 06/16/06 in Traffic Safety Issues, Cycling Advocacy News
Vow to fix road - June 17, 2006
Residents of Blind Bight, south-east of Melbourne, have vowed to do all possible to have improved a “treacherous” stretch of road where a six-year-old girl was fatally struck by a car on Thursday night. Logan Harris, a grade 1 student at Devon Meadows Primary School, was struck in Warneet Road, Blind Bight, just before 6.30pm. Another car is believed to have hit her before stopping, while a third car hit the back of the second.
Her family was in the midst of moving house to nearby Cranbourne to get away from busy Warneet Road, when Logan was killed. Angry residents were yesterday preparing a petition for footpaths and a reduction in the speed limit or introduction of speed humps. Jan Armstrong, who has lived locally for 20 years, described the road as treacherous.
“There are a lot of drivers who take no notice of the limit and come round the corner at 80 km/h,” she said. “To add to that, there’s no proper footpath on the residential side of Warneet Road so if she was riding her bike before she was hit, as some people have suggested, there was nowhere else for her to ride but the road.”
The driver who allegedly struck Logan initially left the scene but later contacted police. He was questioned for several hours before being released without charge. Inspector Richard Watkins said police were trying to establish whether the man realised he had hit the girl before he drove off. Logan’s father did not see the accident but rushed to the scene soon after.
Inspector Watkins urged witnesses to come forward. One driver who may have seen the accident, a thin man seen in the driver’s seat of a white car, possibly a Commodore, on Warneet Road. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Man quizzed over fatal hit-run
Police investigators at the scene of last night’s hit-and-run fatality on the Warneet Road. Photo: Michael Clayton-Jones Selma Milovanovic. June 16, 2006 - 11:55AM
Police have spoken to a 32-year-old man whose car collided with a six-year-old girl, who later died, in Melbourne’s south-east last night. They believe several cars may have struck the girl on Warneet Road, Blind Bight, near Cranbourne, shortly before 6.30pm. Inspector Richard Watkins of the Major Collision Investigation Unit confirmed the girl’s family were moving house when the incident happened. “We are not clear as to why she was on the road. We are still trying to find that out.”
Inspector Watkins said a 32-year-old driver came to police some time after the accident. He was interviewed at the Narre Warren police station last night and released without charge. Officers are trying to establish whether the man knew he had hit the girl before he drove away. Inspector Watkins said excessive speed was not a factor, however: “Any speed with a pedestrian can be very dangerous, whether it’s over the speed limit or not, speed can be a contributing factor in killing people.” He appealed for witnesses to come forward, saying it was still very early in the investigation.
Witnesses sought
Police last night interviewed two other witnesses to the accident — one who stopped at the scene after seeing the girl on the road, and another who collided with the second motorist from behind. They have urged another man, who was seen nearby and who may have witnessed the accident, to come forward. The man is of thin build and was seen in the driver’s seat of a white car, possibly a Holden Commodore, on Warneet Road. Investigators from the Major Collisions Unit are asking the man to call their Brunswick office on 9380 7298 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Police say the girl may have been riding a bicycle which was found near the scene.
Father rushed to scene
The girl’s father was in a nearby street and did not see the incident, but rushed to the scene. An ambulance spokeswoman said locals tried to revive the girl but she had suffered major injuries and died soon after paramedics arrived. She said paramedics could do little to save the girl. “It’s a tragic accident. Unfortunately, because of her injuries, she died at the scene,” she said. Inspector Watkins urged any drivers who hit people to stop and help immediately. “We had members of the public stop at this incident very quickly and render assistance, and we are very grateful for that, so that shows there are people out there that will help.
‘Stop and help’
“If there are incidents out there where people are not sure whether they have hit a person they should stop and render assistance and see that they can help . . . If there’s somebody you leave behind at the scene, you should stop and help.”
The girl’s death came a day after a hit-run collision in Pascoe Vale which left an elderly woman with two broken legs. The 72-year-old woman was trying to cross Warwick Road on Wednesday just after 11pm when she was struck by a dark Holden Commodore station wagon. The woman is recovering in the Royal Melbourne Hospital. “One hit-run is one too many and to have two in two days just hits home how tragic and unnecessary these incidents are,” Senior Constable Coslovich of the police media unit said. The state’s road toll last night stood at 145, compared to 169 at the same time last year.
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Lisa | Jul 21, 2006 | Reply
I am very disgusted that people would publish faulse and misleading information regarding the hit run accident of Logan Harris.
Logan was definitely not riding her bike at 6.30 at night at had passed away instantly, not after parametics arrived.
Logan’s bike was not found at the scene and i find it very hurtful the people that who call themselves journalists would publish information before finding out the facts.
mat | Dec 21, 2008 | Reply
i wouldnt want to be in logans fathers shoes tragic accident for everyone involved if feel very sorry for the mother and the other driver involved