Police have been forced to again urge motorists to drive to the conditions after attending 27 crashes statewide on Friday, including one in the North-West where a man in his 60s died.
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About 3pm, a blue Ford sedan travelling towards Spreyton on Mersey Main Road, Latrobe, crashed head on into a silver Toyota Rav4, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
The crash occurred about 100 metres west of the Railton Road intersection. Police, paramedics and firefighters responded to the crash scene and the road was closed for several hours.
As a result of the crash, an Acacia Hills man, who was a front seat passenger in the Ford, died. The drivers of both cars were taken to the North West Regional Hospital, where the driver of the Ford remains in a stable but serious condition.
“The fatal crash formed part of a significant amount of crashes reported to and attended by police during Friday,” Inspector Adrian Shadbolt said.
“From 12 midday until 9pm Friday night, police attended 27 traffic crashes reported statewide, with the majority occurring in the Northern and Western Districts, and attributable to the rain event and associated wet roads.
“It is evident that the rain event following a dry spell was a significant contributing factor in the majority of those reported crashes and police again remind motorists to drive to the conditions particularly by reducing speed.”
Inspector Shadbolt said the South did not experience the rain events of the North and North-West.
“With rain forecast for Saturday, it is likely that the road surfaces will be extremely slippery and motorist care is urged accordingly,” he said.
“[Friday’s] fatal crash formed part of a series of fatal and serious crashes over the previous week and police investigations into all matters have revealed elements of the fatal five vehicular crash causes, including alcohol, seatbelt, speed and inattention as contributing factors.”
Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash and ask anyone with information to contact Burnie Police Station on 131444 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
A report for the coroner will be prepared.