Tragedy was avoided late last month when a motorist ploughed into St Theresa’s Primary School in Albion. 71598
BY NATALIE GALLENTI
PURE luck avoided a tragedy last month when a car ploughed into an Albion primary school after an accident on King Edward Avenue.
The accident came just weeks after nearby residents submitted a petition to Brimbank Council calling for traffic safety measures to be installed on Adelaide St, which they fear has become a thoroughfare for irresponsible motorists, particularly during peak hours.
According to concerned onlookers the accident occurred when a vehicle travelling north along Adelaide St and turning right into King Edward Avenue was hit by a vehicle travelling south on Adelaide St.
It’s believed the vehicle travelling south spun out of control, flattening a roundabout sign and smashing through the fence of St Theresa’s Primary School, breaking a fence pole clean and ending up well into the school grounds.
The accident occurred during school holidays, normally students are enjoying their lunch in the yard at the time the incident occurred.
Frank Reinthaler, a member of Stop Adelaide St Speeding and Rat-Running group, said the
debris went a few metres into the schoolyard.
“It’s horrible to think that the car was pushed into the school ground at least three or four metres as observed by the tyre marks left on the running track,” Mr Reinthaler said.
He said the street, which has two primary schools and a kindergarten located on it, has become a “speedway for irresponsible drivers”.
The frustrated resident said while the council had committed to installing traffic counters during October and assign an officer to investigate, the group was concerned that nothing would be done to improve safety for school children and residents.
“Let’s hope that the lesson of this latest incident is not lost on the council and that our concerns will be better addressed rather than a matter of simply ringing the Hoon Line.”
He added Albion Primary School had become so concerned about traffic conditions that they had forbidden students from riding their bikes to school.
Brimbank Council general manager of infrastructure and environment Paul Younis, said the council was not aware of the recent accident that occurred on King Edward Avenue.
Mr Younis said the council had responded to concerns received about speeding, hooning and “rat-running” in Adelaide Street in the past and several traffic management measures had been implemented.
He said the petition was currently being investigated and would take into account traffic volumes, speed and vehicle classifications and would also consider police-reported crashes in the area.
