Neil Gaudion was the sole occupant in a 4WD found upturned down an embankment off Upper Rose River Road, near the Basin Track, on Saturday afternoon.

The Border Mail understands Mr Gaudion was in the area undertaking wildlife management – he had worked as a wild dog controller in the North East region for more than a decade.

In 2015 he was quoted by the Wangratta Chronicle for his work catching wild dogs in Paradise Falls and Rose River, and was well-known by the farming communities in those areas.

A DELWP spokeswoman said the department would look into the incident.

“Our condolences go out to Neil’s partner and family during this difficult time,” she said.

“DELWP will work with Victoria Police and Worksafe to investigate the incident.”

WorkSafe Victoria attended the crash on Saturday and will continue their investigation into the incident.

Whitfield and Wangaratta police and SES assisted at the scene on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, drivers were lucky to escape injury later that day when a storm hit the Hume Freeway.

Wangaratta highway patrol Senior Constable Patrick Murray said a number of collisions occurred simultaneously about 5pm between the Wangaratta-Whitfield Road overpass and the Greta Road exit. 

“There were four collisions independent of each other in the same area, due to a micro-storm,” he said.

“A cell ripped through the area, dumping about one inch of hail and sleet.

“Police attended three of four crashes, and all three cars impacted the wire rope barrier.

“It would be fair to say the new wire rope barriers bordering the freeway have potentially saved three lives.”

Senior Constable Murray said two of the crashes, occurring within metres of each other, involved an elderly couple towing a caravan and a single male driver in another car.

“The other crashes were cleared before we arrived,” he said.

“We implore people to drive to the conditions – one of the drivers was travelling at 110 kilometres per hour and had actually missed his turn-off because he couldn’t see.

“If your visibility is reduced, slow down.”