By XAVIER SMERDON
A DRIVER who killed four young Wyndham residents when she ploughed into their car after driving on the wrong side of the Princes Freeway last year does not appear to have been trying to commit suicide.
According to Victoria’s top traffic cop, Assistant Commissioner Road Policing, Robert Hill, the horror crash was more likely simply a tragic accident.
Casey Valetic, 24, of Hoppers Crossing, Melissa Parry, 23, of Werribee, and Brad Dickson and Nathan Kerr, both 23, of Werribee, were killed in the early hours of Saturday 8 December as they were returning from a night out in Geelong.
The driver of the car that crashed head on into the four friends was later identified as Sarah Houlihan, 32, of Roxburgh Park.
“This investigation is ongoing but early indications from witnesses are that she remained on that left hand side for the entirety of the 20 kilometres which indicates to me that she simply got it wrong,” Ass Comm Hill said.
“We do have situations where people get onto these carriageways and they have a death wish and they intentionally drive at traffic, well that wasn’t the situation as I understand it.”
Ass Comm Hill said VicRoads were investigating the on ramp that Ms Houlihan used when she drove onto the freeway.
Ass Comm Hill was in Wyndham last Monday to talk to local Highway Patrol members and accompany them on one of their shifts.
He said it was part of a directive from Chief Commissioner Ken Lay to learn what could be done to continue to lower Victoria’s road toll.
“I will work on the front line over the next three or four months with our road policing practitioners and specialists across the state,” he said.
“Wyndham was one of my first ports of calls. Certainly hoon driving is an issue for this particular area unlike other areas in the state it features highly in terms of the vehicle impoundments.”
