By Tyler Wright
Monbulk CFA Fire & Rescue Brigade crews were on the scene at a two-vehicle collision in Belgrave on the morning of Thursday 29 June.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Belgrave-Hallam Road and Park Drive at around 6.30am, where a mini-van and hatchback had collided.
Monbulk Fire & Rescue Brigade Lieutenant Glenn Hickingbotham said brigade members rescued the trapped occupant of the mini-van, which rolled on its side, by popping the rear hatch with a spreader tool.
“We held the door up and laid the rear seats and then assisted the lady out and handed her to ambulance for assessments,” Mr Hickingbotham said.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson told the Star Mail a woman believed to be in her 40s was taken to the Alfred Hospital with upper body injuries in a stable condition.
Another woman believed to be in her 50s was taken to Dandenong Hospital for observation in a stable condition, with a man believed to be in his 60s also taken to Dandenong Hospital with upper body injuries in a stable condition, the spokesperson confirmed.
“Three other people did not require emergency treatment or transport,” the spokesperson said.
Six CFA units from Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South and Monbulk attended the scene, a CFA spokesperson confirmed.
In wet winter months, Mr Hickingbotham said drivers should put their lights on early and adjust their driving to suit the weather.
“And knowing that getting somewhere a few minutes earlier isn’t worth the risk of speeding and having a potential incident,” he said.
“The general advice is to drive to the conditions, adjust your driving style and speed to suit wet roads, understanding that braking distances increase during the wet.”
