Woman Killed in Fiery Crash Involving Truck at South Morang, Melbourne’s Northeast – February 24, 2025

Incident Overview
A woman has tragically lost her life following a fiery crash involving a truck at South Morang, in Melbourne’s northeast. The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 24, 2025 , at approximately 9:30 am , when the car she was driving collided with a truck on Gorge Road. Upon impact, her vehicle burst into flames, leaving emergency services unable to save her despite their best efforts. The driver of the truck, a 40-year-old man from Epping, was arrested at the scene and is currently being interviewed by detectives. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities are appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage to assist in determining the cause of the crash.

Location and Time
The crash occurred on Gorge Road at South Morang, a suburb located in Melbourne’s northeast. The collision happened at approximately 9:30 am on Tuesday, February 24, 2025 , during morning traffic hours. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, but the intensity of the fire and the severity of the crash made it impossible to save the woman.

Vehicles Involved
The crash involved two vehicles:

• A car driven by the deceased woman, which burst into flames upon colliding with the truck.
• A truck operated by a 40-year-old man from Epping, who was arrested at the scene.

The impact of the collision was severe, causing significant damage to both vehicles and igniting a fire that consumed the car entirely.

Crash Description
Police reports indicate that the woman was traveling along Gorge Road when her car collided with the truck. The force of the impact caused her vehicle to burst into flames, leaving her trapped inside. Emergency services arrived promptly and attempted to extinguish the fire and rescue the driver, but tragically, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her identity has not yet been formally released.

The driver of the truck, a 40-year-old man from Epping, remained at the scene and was taken into custody by Victoria Police. Detectives are currently interviewing him as part of their investigation into the crash.

Injuries/Fatalities

• The female driver of the car tragically died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services.

No other injuries have been reported in connection with the crash.

Emergency Response
Emergency services, including firefighters, paramedics, and police, were dispatched to the scene shortly after the crash was reported. Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames engulfing the car, while paramedics attempted to provide medical assistance to the trapped driver. Unfortunately, the woman could not be saved and was declared deceased at the scene.

Victoria Police secured the area and began their investigation, focusing on determining the cause of the collision and whether factors such as speed, road conditions, or driver error played a role. A section of Gorge Road and Kurrak Road has been closed in both directions between Riverside Drive at South Morang and Yan Yean Road at Yarrambat, causing significant traffic disruptions in the area.

Traffic Disruptions
The crash has caused major disruptions to traffic in Melbourne’s northeast, with motorists urged to allow an additional 15 minutes for detours. Emergency services remain on-site, and closures are expected to continue through the afternoon as investigations proceed.

Drivers are advised to use alternative routes, including:

• Plenty Road, Bridge Inn Road, and Yan Yean Road through Mernda.
• Plenty Road, the M80 Ring Road, Greensborough Bypass, and Yan Yean Road through Bundoora and Greensborough.

Route 901 buses have been diverted around the road closure, missing up to 18 stops in both directions. The Department of Transport has warned that delays are likely to persist as emergency services conduct their investigations.

Community Impact
The tragic death of the woman has deeply affected the South Morang community, with residents expressing their condolences to her family. The fiery nature of the crash has also raised concerns about road safety, particularly on busy roads like Gorge Road, where heavy vehicles and cars frequently share the roadway.

Community members are calling for improved infrastructure and increased safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The arrest of the truck driver has sparked discussions about accountability and responsibility in traffic incidents, particularly those involving fatalities.

Investigation
Victoria Police are conducting an ongoing investigation into the crash, focusing on several key areas:

• The actions of both drivers leading up to the collision.
• Potential contributing factors such as speed, road conditions, or mechanical issues.
• Whether distraction or impairment played a role in the crash.

Authorities are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward. Information can be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or submitting a report online at www.crimestoppers.com.au .

Contributing Factors
While the investigation is ongoing, potential contributing factors include:

• Driver error, such as failure to yield or improper lane changes.
• Road conditions, including visibility or signage issues on Gorge Road.
• Possible distractions or lapses in attention by either driver.
• Mechanical issues with either the car or the truck that may have contributed to the crash.