By Jesse Graham and Jodie Symonds
UPDATE: Friday, 9 October
A TEENAGER was killed and eight others were hospitalised on Tuesday night in a single-car crash in Mount Evelyn, with police investigating the circumstances.
Police believe that a black, 1998 Holden Commodore was travelling south on Hereford Road, Mount Evelyn, at 6.15pm on Tuesday, 6 October, when the driver, a 22-year-old Mount Evelyn woman, lost control and crashed the car into a pole.
In a media conference on Wednesday, 7 October, Major Collision Investigation Unit (MCIU) Sergeant Gerard Clanchy said that a 16-year-old girl was killed in the crash.
All of the other occupants of the car, including an 18-year-old man, a 22-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman, a 26-year-old woman, a 16-year-old girl and a 21-year-old man on the back seat, were injured and taken to various hospitals.
Det Sen Sgt Clanchy said the girl who was killed was sitting on the lap of a 26-year-old man, who was in the passenger seat and is in a critical condition.
The driver was on her Probationary 2 (green P-plate) licence, and was taken to the Alfred Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Other media outlets have named the driver as 22-year-old Emily Toulson, a Healesville resident, and the deceased as 16-year-old Amber Beard.
In the days following the crash, Amber’s Facebook page was flooded with heartfelt messages from grieving friends.
Victoria Police and Det Sen Sgt Clanchy were unable to confirm the names of those involved in the crash.
Det Sen Sgt Clanchy said the Commodore allegedly went around a bend on the wrong side of the road, clipping another car before the driver lost control and hit the pole.
“It’s irresponsible behaviour,” he said.
“We are very lucky that there’s not more seriously injured or deceased people involved.
“It’s exasperating – young people losing their lives under any circumstances is a waste to the community, and obviously very tragic for the families involved.”
The car had no registration plates at the time of the crash, and Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable (LSC), Scott Lardner said the car was allegedly seen around Lillydale Lake before the incident,
LSC Lardner said the car was on an unregistered vehicle permit at the time.
“Realistically, it’s been used outside of those conditions – but that’s the least of the worries at this time,” he said.
“We were obviously concerned with getting the young people out and getting them medical attention.”
Describing the crash as like a “TAC ad”, LSC Lardner said there had been a “huge” ripple effect, on the families of those involved in the crash and the neighbours who came to help those in the car.
Det Sen Sgt Clanchy said that passengers were spoken to on the night, and that “evidence” of alcohol was in the car, but that no charges had yet been laid.
He praised the efforts of neighbours who put out a fire in the car after the crash and said their actions may have saved the occupant’s lives.
“Those people have acted very courageously,” he said.
“No doubt if the car had caught fire, there would have been more of those killed inside.”
Anyone who may have any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
The crash pushed the provisional road toll up to 192 deaths, two more deaths than at the same time last year.
Anyone who may be distressed by the crash, or by this story, can contact Road Trauma Support Services Victoria for counselling on 1300 367 797 or at www.rtssv.org.au.
