A confronting scene of shattered glass and smashed car parts was left strewn across the road after a three-car crash at Lilliput on Wednesday morning.
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Police had greatest fears for a 23-year-old Rutherglen woman, who was left in a critical condition with a serious head injury and two broken legs.
State Emergency Service volunteers worked for about an hour to free her from her two-door Nissan sports car, eventually cutting off the roof of the car, before she could be flown to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.
Police believe a P-plater in a BMW sedan was heading home from work towards Rutherglen when he drifted onto the wrong side of Rutherglen-Springhurst Road about 6.30am.
A woman in a Ford Falcon tried to evade the car, just clipping it before careering 200 metres off the road and through a fence.
The car came to rest safely in a paddock and she was not seriously injured.
The 23-year-old was not so lucky and collided head-on with the BMW.
Her car skidded off the side of the road following the impact.
The 19-year-old driver of the BMW was also trapped for more than 90 minutes and was taken to Wangaratta Hospital by ambulance with serious face and leg injuries.
The Major Collision Investigation Unit attended the crash scene later in the morning and would consider charges against the P-plater.
Sergeant Tim Mooney, of Wodonga police, said all the drivers were from the Rutherglen area.
“It’s more than likely the people in this incident would be known by the greater Rutherglen community,” he said.
Springhurst firefighters were also on the scene to help emergency services.
Rutherglen-Springhurst Road was closed in both directions for most of Wednesday and only reopened when the crash scene was clear at about 4.30pm.
A police media spokesman said the investigation had been handed back to Wodonga Highway Patrol and inquiries were ongoing, but at the time of The Border Mail going to print, the woman was still in hospital.
Police were investigating fatigue and distraction as possible causes.
“We don’t believe alcohol or speed were factors, but investigations will be ongoing,” Sergeant Mooney said.
“It is a timely reminder for people to be careful on the roads.”