Toddler killed, sibling and parents among the injured in major crash on Calder Freeway at Melbourne
A two-year-old has died and four others, including a baby, have been critically injured in a major crash involving a semi-trailer and three cars on the Calder Freeway in Melbourne.
The collision occurred about 2.30pm when a semi-trailer carrying grain struck three cars, including one towing a boat, at Diggers Rest near the Bulla Road overpass.
The two-year-old child who was in the backseat of one of the cars.
Detective Sergeant Mark Amos said a one-year-old who was also in the car was fighting for its life, as had the children’s mother and father.
Sergeant Amos said a driver of another car, a man, was also in a critical condition.
“This is just a catastrophe. It’s an absolute disaster,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria said the child was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
One man in a serious condition and another man aged in his 60s and in a stable condition were both taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
A woman was flown to the Alfred in a critical condition.
Two people who were in another vehicle were not seriously injured.
Firefighters worked to free the victims from the cars, with one man having been trapped in his car under the overturned truck.
The male driver of the truck is in police custody.
