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BP takes tankers off road after trailer detaches and kills three in Victoria BP takes tankers off road after trailer detaches and kills three in Victoria
(about 3 hours later)
BP has taken all its Victorian petrol tankers off the road after a four-year-old boy, his mother and another woman died when a trailer came loose and smashed into two cars. BP has recalled its entire Australian trucking fleet after a four year old, his mother and another woman died when a trailer came loose as a tanker rounded a corner and hit two cars in Victoria.
The trailer of the BP petrol tanker became detached while rounding a bend, rolling on top of one of the cars and crushing it. A total of 42 BP and contractor vehicles will be taken off the roads nationally as the petrol company and police investigate the fatal accident, which happened on Thursday morning south of Wodonga.
Witnesses said the truck was travelling normally before the trailer came off. BP Australia’s president, Andy Holmes, said the recall of the fleet was a precaution.“I have instructed the business to initiate an inspection program of BP’s trucking fleet with transport regulators across Australia,” he said in a statement.“While the precise cause of this tragic incident may not be known for some time, it is essential we do all that we can to understand how this occurred and to ensure that it cannot happen again.”
“The tanker uncoupled from the tri-axle primary vehicle, the trailer has then crossed on to the wrong side of the road and collided head on with two vehicles,” Det Insp Bernie Rankin told reporters at the scene near Wodonga. The trailer rolled on top of one of the cars and crushed it while a second car was also involved in the accident. A 33-year-old woman and her young son were killed, and a 67-year-old woman also died.
“The tanker uncoupled from the tri-axle primary vehicle, the trailer has then crossed on to the wrong side of the road and collided head on with two vehicles,” Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin told reporters at the scene.
“This is just a catastrophic situation where people innocently driving along a highway have been confronted with a situation that was impossible for them to have any control over or take any evasive action.”“This is just a catastrophic situation where people innocently driving along a highway have been confronted with a situation that was impossible for them to have any control over or take any evasive action.”
A 33-year-old Allans Flat woman and her four-year-old son died in the accident on Thursday morning along with a 67-year-old Yackandandah woman in the other car.
Rankin said the trailer and truck will be examined to determine what caused the crash.
BP said that as a precaution it had recalled its entire Victorian trucking fleet and would co-operate with any investigation.
“We are deeply saddened that there have been loss of life,” a BP statement said.
No fuel spilled out of the tanker but the petrol had to be funnelled into another truck before it could be lifted off the crushed vehicle.No fuel spilled out of the tanker but the petrol had to be funnelled into another truck before it could be lifted off the crushed vehicle.
The truck driver, a local man in his 50s, is assisting police with their inquiries.The truck driver, a local man in his 50s, is assisting police with their inquiries.
The deaths take Victoria’s road toll to 153, eight more than at this time last year.The deaths take Victoria’s road toll to 153, eight more than at this time last year.