A 28-year-old man died when his 4WD rolled backward striking him while off-road in Hopetoun Park, bringing a tragic end to the long weekend death toll.
The man was one of five people including a cyclist, motorcyclist, pedestrian and two drivers killed during the Queen’s Birthday weekend – three of those deaths occurring within two hours of one another last Monday.
Road Policing assistant commissioner Doug Fryer said five families were trying to come to grips with the reality of road trauma.
“Our police have had to knock on five doors this weekend and deliver an unimaginable message,” assistant commissioner Fryer said.
“I feel for the families, friends and extended community impacted and also our police officers; attending collisions at all times of the day and night.”
Motorists had their vehicles scanned, were breath-tested, drug tested and speed-checked as part of Operation Regal which aimed to reduce the number of lives lost and injuries on the roads.
In Melton, police detected 19 speeding offences, 15 unregistered vehicles, eight disqualified drivers and six seat belt offences.
In Moorabool, there were 81 speeding offences, 10 unregistered vehicles and one vehicle was impounded.
On the first day of the operation (June 8), a 49-year-old woman was caught more than double the limit at a booze bus on the Western Highway at Caroline Springs. Her car was impounded.
