Calls for major driver's licence change after school holiday horror in Melbourne: 'Valid question'
A silver Toyota Yaris, driven by the elderly woman, mounted the footpath near a playground on Coleman Road in Wantirna South, in Melbourne 's east, shortly before 12.30pm on Thursday.
A 59-year-old grandmother, her 60-year-old partner, and their two-year-old grandson were walking along the footpath in the same direction as the car when they were struck.
The grandmother died at the scene.
Her partner is still fighting for life in The Alfred Hospital.
Their young grandson was rushed to The Royal Children's Hospital with life-threatening injuries, but is now in a stable condition.
The 'terribly shaken' elderly driver escaped with minor scratches but remains in hospital. She currently isn't in a position to be interviewed by police.
Many unanswered questions remain, including whether or not the driver should have been behind the wheel given her age.
In the wake of the tragedy, Acting Premier Ben Carroll indicated support for more frequent retesting of elderly drivers to ensure they're fit to drive, in line with other states and territories.
He vowed to take the issue up with Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne.
'In relation to people who are elderly and driving, I think it is a valid question … around testing,' Carroll told reporters on Friday.
'There are a range of initiatives in place through our general practitioners right around Victoria when it comes to making sure that Victorians continue to get tested for their driver's licence.
'But I think this, no doubt this tragedy has brought it into focus.
'Having said that, there will be a thorough investigation underway and we will wait for that to run its course.'
Carroll also extended his condolences to the victims' family.
'My heart, as every Victorian's, just breaks for this family and what they're going through and our thoughts are with them,' he said.
The latest tragedy comes a year after Victoria's state government rejected calls by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to introduce age-based regulations in line with other jurisdictions.
In Victoria, drivers aged over-75 only need to renew their licence every three years.
NSW, Queensland, ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory require drivers over 75 to undergo an annual health check, while older drivers in South Australia must complete self-assessments.
In Western Australia, an annual medical assessment is required after turning 80 to renew a driver's licence.
Thursday's fatality took Victoria's road toll to 14 lives lost in the last seven days.
It's understood the elderly driver collided with a street sign and struck the pedestrians before the out-of-control car continued down the road for another 200m running through the fence near a playground.
'It came from behind,' Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said.
'It looks like it has lost control about 40m or 50m before the collision with the people who were walking on the other side of that road.'
Supt Goldsmith said it was too early to say whether the driver had suffered a medical episode when she lost control.
It's unknown whether charges will be laid.
Crash investigators will examine whether speed was a contributing factor.
'That will be subject to the investigation, but it is a downhill section of road, so if there has been a lack of control to some degree there is a possibility the car would have picked up speed as it's driven further down Coleman Road,' Supt Goldsmith said.
'We've lost so many lives and had so many life-threatening injuries over the course of last week (and it) is completely horrific and unacceptable.'
Victoria has recorded a number of deadly crashes involving out-of-control vehicles in recent years.
In November, kindergarten worker Eleanor Bryant was killed and a three-year-old boy injured when a truck driven by a man, 68, smashed through the gate of Macedon Ranges preschool's playground.
Two weeks earlier, an 11-year-old boy was killed and four other students injured when an SUV crashed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne's east.
Five people were killed and six injured in November 2023 when a diabetic driver passed out and crashed into patrons seated outside the Royal Daylesford Hotel.
The male driver, 66 was charged but the allegations were ultimately struck out, after a magistrate found there wasn't enough evidence to support a conviction.
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