A SOUTH-AUSTRALIAN man is expected to be charged with careless driving by police after at least 29 cattle were killed in a single-vehicle rollover in Willatook near Hawkesdale at around 10.30am Sunday morning.
It’s understood the vehicle was travelling along Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road towards the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange (WVLX) for next Monday’s Mortlake sale when the 30-year-old driver failed to navigate a right bend in the road.
The truck was carrying about 40 cattle, at least 29 of them were euthanised at the scene due to the extent of injuries suffered in the collision – the estimated value of the stock lost was around $90,000.
“The cattle was actually for the store sale next week,” WVLX manager, Colin Ryan said.
“It’s an unfortunate accident, but it hasn’t affected agents.”
The sole occupant of the vehicle was assessed by paramedics at the scene and did not require further treatment, sustaining minor cuts and bruises.
The truck on the other hand, was very badly damaged and had to be removed from the scene by two heavy haulage vehicles – the road was closed for an extended period of time for a significant clean up.
Emergency services including police from Hamilton, Port Fairy and Koroit, an ambulance, and Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews also attended the scene.
Portland Police Station was dealing with the matter and said it was “still under investigation” at the time of print.
The truck driver is expected to be charged with careless driving at a date yet to be determined in a Magistrates’ court.
Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road has long been considered a dangerous road for truck drivers and other vehicles due to low-hanging limbs, rough surfaces, numerous potholes and a history of serious accidents.
It has seen a number of truck rollovers in recent times – around 60 cattle were killed from a cattle truck rollover on the same road almost three years ago.
Just 12 months ago, The Spectator published an article showing how dangerous the road was for local truck drivers to travel and the importance of the route for livestock trucks.
One local truck driving company said at the time that driving the road was “like playing Russian roulette with (their) lives … we live in fear that the next accident will be fatal.”
South West Coast MP, Roma Britnell also commented saying 12 months ago that the road was “not fit for purpose”.
Sunday’s incident is almost identical to the one three years ago which also saw a B-double cattle truck driving on the Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road and exactly the same thing happened – he failed to navigate a right bend and rolled the vehicle killing over 50 cattle.
The Spectator article from January 30, 2020, said that the sole male occupant was not injured in the crash and it fuelled further discussion around upgrades.
“It was a 100-kilometre an hour road with a 60km/h advisory sign before the bend,” the article read.
