Police appeal for video clue to head-on smash

Both cars involved in the crash were destroyed. Police are appealing for anyone with information to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000. 125461 Picture: JESSE GRAHAM

By JESSE GRAHAM

POLICE are asking for witnesses to Monday’s crash on the Maroondah Highway to come forward with information, with reports of a video taken by a passer-by.
Victoria Police announced this afternoon that it is believed a witness to the crash, which took place at 7.50am near Maxwells Road on the Maroondah Highway in Coldstream, took video footage of one of the cars.
The car was a Mitsubishi Mirage, with the registration PIU 088, which police believe veered into the wrong lane, travelling towards Healesville, and hit a red Ford Cougar head-on.
There have been unconfirmed reports of the silver car driving erratically before the crash, and Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Andrew Shenton encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
“Even if they don’t think it’s much, we’d really encourage people to call Crime Stoppers,” he said.
The crash resulted in a 29-year-old Warburton woman and a 43-year-old Healesville man – both the sole occupants of the cars – being airlifted to hospital.
The Warburton woman, who was critically injured in the crash, has had her condition downgraded to ‘serious’ and is at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
She was taken from the scene of the crash with head, leg and pelvis injuries.
The Healesville man is at The Alfred hospital in a stable condition with leg and pelvis injuries.
The crash resulted in the Maroondah Highway closing in both directions for around seven hours, with the Major Collision Unit investigating the circumstances of the crash.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au