General News
30 January, 2026
Coroner urges action for Western Highway
A coroner has expressed concerns around the state of the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat, urging the government to prioritise its upgrade. The comments of Coroner Ingrid Giles were made in a report into the death of a 29-year-old Lebanese national who was killed in a head-on collision with a truck in November 2024.
The man was driving to Adelaide in his niece's Hyundai Santa Fe west along the highway near the Colonial Road and Hillside Road overpass when he collided with a truck travelling west.
"At this location, the Western Highway is a sealed road with two lanes, travelling in an east and west direction over a railway overpass between Colonial Road and Hillside Road," Ms Giles said in her report.
“The overpass is narrow and approximately 9.3 metres in width, with two solid white lines dividing the lanes and surrounded by concrete and metal safety railings on either side.
"Trees and shrubs line both sides of the road, restricting visibility for vehicles travelling both directions as they travel through the road bends."
She said the truck driver described seeing the Hyundai travelling "completely in his lane toward him" as he entered the bend at the beginning of the overpass.
"He stated, 'I had no time or space to move out of the way'. [The truck driver] pressed the brakes and veered slightly to the right, but the Hyundai Santa Fe continued in his path and collided head-on with the prime mover," she said.
The man died at the scene.
“Having considered all of the circumstances, I consider that it is most likely that Mr TMP died as the result of a tragic accident, in which he encountered a head-on collision while mistakenly driving on the wrong side of the side,” she said.
Coroner Giles used her report to urge the Victorian Government to recommence work duplicating the section of highway between Buangor and Ararat.
“I am concerned by ongoing safety issues in this area and urge that the Victorian Government continue to prioritise the proposed upgrades.
“I note that since the initial date for completion passed in 2020, four people have lost their lives in head-on collisions which occurred on the relevant stretch of road. There have also been a number of nonfatal injuries in head-on collisions additional to these deaths.
“However, in making these comments, I recognise the fundamental importance of thorough and careful consultation in engaging with local Aboriginal people and organisations, to ensure that any final design minimises any deleterious impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage.
“In this respect, I acknowledge the safety measures recently implemented in this area, including a reduced speed limit and improved signage, which I am hopeful may improve safety for those travelling between Buangor and Ararat until the highway duplication project is completed,” she said.