May 12, 2025

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Incident Overview
A horrific crash occurred on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025 , at the intersection of North Canal Road and Willow Grove Road near Trafalgar , in eastern Victoria , claiming the life of a mother from Dandenong North and leaving her husband and two children seriously injured.

Victoria Police believe the husband failed to stop at a stop sign , resulting in a collision with another vehicle in the middle of the intersection. One car rolled off the road and down an embankment. The woman died at the scene, while three other passengers — her husband and two children — were taken to hospital in serious condition.

The driver of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries, and a passenger in that car was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

Detective Sergeant Mark Amos described the incident as “an absolute tragedy” and urged drivers to remain vigilant:

“It’s just an absolute tragedy that we’ve got the loss of a life — a wife, a mother — on Mother’s Day, killed in a crash that just should never have occurred.”
— Detective Sergeant Mark Amos

Location and Time

  • Crash Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025 (approximately 5:55 pm).
  • Location: Intersection of North Canal Road and Willow Grove Road, Trafalgar, Victoria.

Vehicles Involved

  • A car carrying a family of four — including the deceased mother, her husband (driver), and their two children.
  • A second vehicle involved in the collision. Its occupants included a driver who suffered minor injuries and a passenger with serious injuries.

Injuries/Fatalities

  • Fatality:
    • The 40-year-old mother from Dandenong North died at the scene.
  • Serious Injuries:
    • The husband (driver) and two children were taken to hospital in serious condition.
    • A passenger in the second vehicle was also seriously injured.
  • Minor Injuries:
    • The driver of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries.

Emergency Response

  • Emergency services arrived quickly at the scene after reports of a serious collision.
  • Paramedics attempted resuscitation on the deceased woman and treated the remaining victims before transporting them to hospital.

Police Investigation
The crash is being investigated by Victoria Police , with a focus on:

  • Whether failure to stop at a stop sign led directly to the collision.
  • Road conditions, signage, and visibility at the time of the crash.
  • Dashcam or CCTV footage of either vehicle traveling through the area.

Authorities are particularly interested in public assistance to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash.

“Someone is going to have to explain to this lady’s family, her children, why this happened… [on] the worst possible day.”
— Detective Sergeant Mark Amos

Broader Road Safety Concerns
This tragic crash is part of a deadly weekend on Victorian roads that saw five lives lost in just three days :

  • Monday, May 12: Two drivers killed in a head-on crash in **Clayton South**.
  • Monday, May 12 (6am): A pedestrian critically injured in **West Footscray**.
  • Saturday, May 10: A motorcyclist killed and a passenger critically injured in **Moutajup**.
  • Sunday, May 11: One driver killed in a crash near **Pootilla**, close to Ballarat.

These incidents bring the total number of road fatalities in Victoria to 109 for the year , surpassing the previous year’s figure of 102 at the same point in the year.

As National Road Safety Week begins, police have announced increased patrols and enforcement efforts aimed at curbing dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, distraction, and failure to obey road rules.

Community Impact
The death of a mother on Mother’s Day has deeply affected the local community and highlighted the devastating ripple effect of road trauma. Her passing leaves behind a grieving family and underscores the importance of road safety education and responsible driving practices.

The emotional impact on the couple’s children will be long-lasting, adding urgency to calls for greater awareness around high-risk intersections and driver behavior.

Appeal for Information
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam or CCTV footage of the vehicles traveling along North Canal Road or Willow Grove Road between 5:30–6:15 pm on Sunday, May 11, is urged to come forward.

  • Crime Stoppers Victoria: Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
  • Witnesses can also contact Victoria Police directly via their local station or the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) witness portal.