Four Dead, Five Injured in ‘Senseless’ Mini-Van Crash: Devastating Chapel Road Tragedy Rocks Cobram Community Just Weeks Before Christmas
- Tragedy strikes as a white mini-van carrying nine people crashes into a tree on Chapel Road in Muckatah, Victoria, leaving four adults dead and five injured
- The horrific accident occurred just 10 kilometres south of Cobram, with the victims believed to be local farm workers
- A child remains in critical condition with severe upper and lower body injuries, while the male driver and two teenage girls are among those hospitalised
A sombre mood has descended upon the tight-knit community of Cobram in Victoria’s north, following a devastating mini-van crash that claimed the lives of four people and left five others injured. The tragic incident occurred on Chapel Road in Muckatah, approximately 10 kilometres south of Cobram, at around 5 pm yesterday.
The white Toyota Hiace van, which was carrying six adults and three children aged between 10 and 16, collided with a tree on the narrow bitumen road. Four adult passengers, yet to be formally identified, were pronounced dead at the scene, while the five injured were rushed to various hospitals.
A child, who was among those injured, remains in the Royal Children’s Hospital with critical upper and lower body injuries. The male driver and two teenage girls are also receiving medical treatment, with some of the injured suffering multiple, critical injuries.
Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason described the crash as a “senseless loss of life” that would devastate families in the lead-up to Christmas. “The relationship between the occupants of the vehicle is also unknown to us and will be part of our investigation, but there is a possibility that they could have been workers within the local area,” he said.
Phillip Barnes, a 67-year-old local resident who has lived on Chapel Road all his life, expressed concerns about the safety of the narrow road. “During the summer, a lot of campers, caravans and fruit pickers go up and down the road. I think the GPS brings them along,” he said.
Graeme Emonson, Moira Shire Council chair administrator, warned that some rural roads presented heightened risks. “We all know that our local roads have particular characteristics that lend themselves to be a high-risk environment, and we all need to take extreme and special care, particularly at this time of year,” he said.
The Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit is investigating the crash, which has sent shockwaves through the Cobram and Katamatite communities.