October 3, 2025

Carter Capner Law monitors accidents involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, busses, cyclists and trams throughout Australia to spotlight safety issues of concern to our clients and to demonstrate those situations in which they may have a right to an insurance or compensation recovery. We act for drivers, riders, passengers, pedestrians. Call today on 1300 529 529 or click here to reach Carter Capner Law. Click on Client Showcase to view our history of road accident compensation claims.

Incident Overview
A teenage girl has died following a head-on collision involving a stolen vehicle on the Hume Freeway at Wodonga in Victoria’s northeast early Friday morning, October 3, 2025. At approximately 12:50 am, a stolen Nissan X-Trail allegedly travelling at 150 km/h in the wrong direction collided head-on with a ute near the NSW–Victoria border.

A 16-year-old girl, a passenger in the Nissan, died at the scene. The driver, an 18-year-old woman on a learner’s permit and currently on bail, was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries and remains in intensive care. The 23-year-old male driver of the ute sustained a broken arm and other non-life-threatening injuries.

“Once her injuries are stabilised, and we get clearance from hospital, major collision investigators will interview her with the view of charging her with the appropriate offences caused as a result of this collision.” — Inspector Craig McEvoy, Victoria Police

Location and Time

  • Crash Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 (approximately 12:50 am)
  • Location: Hume Freeway, near the NSW–VIC border, Wodonga, Victoria

Vehicles Involved

  • Nissan X-Trail (stolen), driven by 18-year-old woman (learner, injured, under police investigation), passenger 16-year-old girl (fatal)
  • Utility vehicle, driven by 23-year-old man (injured)

Injuries/Fatalities

  • Fatality:
    • 16-year-old female passenger in the stolen Nissan X-Trail, deceased at the scene.
  • Serious Injuries:
    • 18-year-old female Nissan driver (learner, on bail), airlifted to hospital with critical injuries, remains in intensive care.
  • Other Injuries:
    • 23-year-old male ute driver, sustained non-life-threatening injuries including a broken arm, transported to hospital.

Emergency Response

  • Emergency services responded to reports of a high-speed head-on collision on the Hume Freeway near Wodonga around 12:50 am.
  • The teenage passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene.
  • The Nissan driver was airlifted to hospital; the ute driver was transported by road ambulance.
  • Police closed the freeway for several hours to allow for scene reconstruction by Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives.

“The crash was completely avoidable and could have been catastrophic.” — Inspector Craig McEvoy, Victoria Police

Police Investigation
Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit are examining:

  • The circumstances surrounding the stolen Nissan X-Trail, which had been taken from an address in Wodonga West on Tuesday and used in multiple local offences.
  • Whether excessive speed, wrong-way driving, and the driver’s bail status contributed to the crash.
  • Statements from witnesses and dashcam footage from motorists travelling on the Hume Freeway at the time.

Community Impact
The death of the 16-year-old girl and the critical injuries to the learner driver have shocked the Wodonga community and reignited calls for stronger measures against high-speed stolen vehicle incidents. Police described the crash as “completely avoidable,” citing the devastating ripple effect on first responders, witnesses, and families.

Appeal for Information
Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage to contact:

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