Crash site … Hillside residents were left to foot the bill after a car crashed into their fence for the third time. 59154 Picture: BELINDA NOLAN
By Belinda Nolan
Police will appeal to Brimbank and Melton councils to unite to help pay for the barriers along the notorious accident black spot between Sydenham and Hillside.
The push comes after a car crashed through the back fence of a house on Calder Park Drive last week, landing in the residents’ backyard.
Mary Doumit said her family was asleep on Tuesday morning when they heard a loud crash coming from the back of their Hannah St home.
“My mum went outside and she saw two guys trying to pull their car out of the fence,” Ms Doumit said.
“It was literally stuck in the fence.
“It scares us to death because we’ve got kids and they’re always playing in the backyard.
“We don’t care about the fence, we just don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
Mum Alice said it was the third time a car had hit their fence in recent years.
“If this keeps happening I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said.
“Sometimes I can’t sleep at night because I’m so worried.”
Senior Constable Mark Kendall said the accident occurred when another car cut the driver off at a roundabout, forcing him off the road.
“Similar incidents happen all the time in this area,” Sen Const Kendall told Star.
“Unfortunately a lot of young drivers take risks along this road.
“People go too fast through roundabouts, or break the road rules and they go through someone’s fence.
“It’s a big concern because there’s a school just opposite, there’s a bus stop and shops and someone could get hurt.
“All too often it takes a fairly serious accident for something to be done about it.”
Sen Const Kendall said Caroline Springs Police would be campaigning to Brimbank and Melton councils to help pay for safety barriers.
But Melton Council claimed it had no responsibility for safety along Calder Park Drive.
The council’s design and traffic co-ordinator Matt Hutchinson said the road was in Brimbank Council’s jurisdiction.
“Melton Shire Council hasn’t heard anything about this accident from the police,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“ The accident location is in Brimbank’s jurisdiction.”
Star contacted Brimbank Council for comment but did not receive a response before deadline.
