11-Year-Old Girl Dies After Family Car Crash in Wantirna South – Melbourne, VIC – 23 October 2025

Incident Overview
An 11-year-old girl has tragically died and her younger brother remains in hospital following a car crash in Melbourne’s east on Thursday night, October 23, 2025.

The children were travelling in the back seat of their family’s Toyota Corolla when it collided with another car at the intersection of High Street Road and Wallace Road in Wantirna South at approximately 8:20 pm.

Police are investigating whether both children were unrestrained at the time of the collision.

The girl was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a critical condition but sadly died overnight. Her four-year-old brother remains hospitalised with serious injuries but is expected to recover.

The children’s 38-year-old mother, who was driving the car, suffered minor injuries, while their father, also 38, was unharmed.

“Even on short trips, please make sure your children are properly restrained in appropriate restraints in the back seat. They are in your hands, and hopefully we can avoid another tragedy like this.” — Detective Sergeant Stephen Hill, Major Collision Investigation Unit

Location and Time

• Crash Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025 (approximately 8:20 pm)
• Location: Intersection of High Street Road and Wallace Road, Wantirna South, Melbourne, Victoria

Vehicles Involved

• Toyota Corolla — carrying a family of four, including two children
• Nissan sedan — carrying two 18-year-old men (both uninjured)

Injuries/Fatalities

• Fatality:
  • 11-year-old girl — sustained critical injuries and died in hospital overnight.
• Serious Injuries:
  • 4-year-old boy — seriously injured, hospitalised but expected to recover.
• Other Injuries:
  • 38-year-old mother (driver) — minor injuries, taken to hospital for observation.
  • 38-year-old father — unharmed.
  • Two 18-year-old men from the Nissan — minor injuries, remained on scene to assist.

Emergency Response

• Emergency services responded shortly after 8:20 pm to the busy Wantirna South intersection.
• Paramedics performed CPR on the 11-year-old girl before transporting her to hospital.
• Her brother and mother were also treated at the scene before transfer to hospital.
• Police closed the intersection for several hours as the **Major Collision Investigation Unit (MCIU)** examined the crash scene.

“A witness described the scene as harrowing, saying the mother was seen carrying the boy while paramedics performed CPR on the girl.” — 7NEWS Melbourne

Police Investigation
The Major Collision Investigation Unit is investigating:

• Whether the children were properly restrained at the time of the crash.
• The Toyota driver’s failure to give way and potential contributing factors such as visibility and signal compliance.
• Crash dynamics and impact speed, as well as passenger positioning within the vehicle.
• Eyewitness accounts and dashcam footage from drivers near High Street Road and Wallace Road between 8:10 pm and 8:30 pm.

Community Impact
The death of the 11-year-old has left the Wantirna South community in mourning. Police have renewed urgent calls for parents to ensure children are correctly restrained at all times, regardless of trip length.

Detective Sergeant Stephen Hill said it was a heartbreaking reminder that proper restraints can mean the difference between life and death.

“They are in your hands, and hopefully we can avoid another tragedy like this.” — Detective Sergeant Stephen Hill, Victoria Police

Appeal for Information
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage from the Wantirna South area to contact:

• Crime Stoppers VIC: Call 1800 333 000 or report anonymously at [www.crimestoppersvic.com.au](https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au)
• Witness Reporting: Contact the Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit.