Midland Highway shut following head-on crash in Mooroopna

By Max Stainkamph and Monique Preston

Aug 9, 2022

Three vehicles were involved in a crash on the Midland Hwy at Mooroopna on August 9. Photo by Megan Fisher

The jaws of life had to be used to cut a man out of a van after a multi-vehicle collision at Mooroopna on Tuesday, August 9.

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Shepparton Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Murray Moser said a Ford Falcon sedan travelling east on the highway allegedly veered on to the wrong side of the road and “glanced” the back of an empty stock trailer being towed by a Ford Ranger ute that was driving in the opposite direction about 10am.

The Falcon then allegedly veered further across the road completely into the opposite lane where it collided heavily with the front of a Hyundai iLoad van, Leading Sen Constable Moser said.

The driver of a Ford Courier ute, towing a tandem trailer, saw the accident unfolding and drove off the side of the road into the grass, but jack-knifed and it and the front of the iLoad van collided, according to police.

The 74-year-old Shepparton man driving the van was trapped for between 30 and 45 minutes before Shepparton Search and Rescue members were able to use their hydraulic rescue equipment — also known as the jaws of life — to free him.

The man was taken to GV Health by ambulance with injuries.

The driver of the Falcon — a 21-year-old Shepparton man — was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The driver of the Ford Ranger ute — a 52-year-old Merrigum man — and the 37-year-old Tatura man driving the Ford Courier ute were not injured.

The Midland Hwy was closed in both directions after the crash, with traffic diverted on the section of highway between Excelsior Ave and Turnbull Rd.

Police investigations into the crash are continuing.