Teen driver killed in early morning crash

By KATH GANNAWAY

ANOTHER crash on the Healesville-Kooweerup Road at Yellingbo has taken a young life.
An 18-year old Cockatoo woman was killed when her car ran off the road and hit a tree at around 6.15am on Sunday morning.
The young woman, the sole occupant of the car, died at the scene.
In a parallel incident police have charged a man who drove through the safety barriers on Sunday and hit a CFA volunteer controlling traffic.
Officer in Charge of Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol, Sergeant John Morgan, said the woman was driving towards Woori Yallock.
He said crash happened after she lost control of the car after coming out of a right hand bend.
“The vehicle has skidded sideways and the driver side has gone into a tree,” he said.
Police were then called on to deal with the car driver who, Sgt Morgan said, had disobeyed police instructions to stop at the crash scene.
“The person failed to stop at the outer cordon when directed by police,” he said.
“He was then directed to stop by a tow truck driver as he approached the inner cordon, but again failed to stop.”
A member of the Cockatoo CFA, First Lieutenant Chris White was then hit as the man continued to drive through.
First Lieutenant White was taken to hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
Police investigations into the fatal crash are continuing.
Sgt Morgan said the male driver responsible for hitting the CFA volunteer was remanded in custody with charges pending.
It is the third serious crash at the same location where in March a woman suffered serious head injuries when a car driven by her teenage daughter left the road and hit the same tree.