A YOUNG Sandy Creek woman was killed near Rutherglen yesterday as thousands enjoyed themselves on the tourist town’s busiest day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The woman driver, 19, died after her utility and a four-wheel-drive towing a caravan collided.
It happened on the Murray Valley Highway about 1pm as Rutherglen and the wineries hosted a big influx of visitors.
Paramedics spent more than two hours trying to resuscitate the woman but she died at the scene.
Police have not released her name.
An elderly couple from Western Australia were in the four-wheel-drive, which had been heading the other way.
Sgt Cameron Roberts, of the Wodonga highway patrol, said the woman’s Ford ute was heading towards Rutherglen when the crash happened.
He said the couple were lucky to escape uninjured from the wreckage of their vehicle.
“One of the vehicles has crossed on to the wrong side of the road and caused a collision,” Sgt Roberts said.
He said paramedics had tried resuscitate the woman.
“Unfortunately, her injuries were significant and she wasn’t going to stay with us,” he said.
The Border Mail understands the couple were travelling around the country.
Their personal items were strewn across the highway and their caravan was barely recognisable.
The caravan is believed to have rolled, hitting a tree before coming to a stop beside the road.
The road, about 10 kilometres west of Rutherglen, was closed to traffic for three hours.
Sgt Roberts said the tragedy was a warning for drivers to take care
“Motorists should drive accordingly, even on straight sections of road,” he said.
“Even in good weather things can go wrong very quickly.”
