A local family in Catani is facing an unimaginable tragedy after a horrific late-night car crash left a young woman fighting for her life and her mother with serious injuries. Emergency services were called to the scene just before midnight on Saturday after their vehicle veered off the road and rolled into a drainage culvert.

The incident, which police have described as a “horror story” for the tight-knit Catani community, saw a four-member family transported to various hospitals following the devastating accident.

Critical Condition for Rear Passenger

Among the injured, a woman in her 20s, who was a rear passenger in the vehicle, sustained life-threatening injuries. She was rushed to The Alfred Hospital where she remains in a critical condition. Detective Sergeant Mark Amos of the Major Collision Investigation Unit commented on the gravity of her situation, stating, “The young girl in the back seat is in the fight of her life at the moment.”

Her mother, who was seated in the front passenger seat, also suffered serious head injuries and is currently receiving treatment at The Alfred Hospital alongside her daughter.

The driver, believed to be the young woman’s father, sustained minor injuries and was transported to Frankston Hospital. Another daughter, also a passenger, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police Investigate Crash Circumstances

Investigators believe the car was travelling north along Heads Road when it failed to stop at the intersection with Koo Wee Rup-Longwarry Road, located south-west of Warragul. The vehicle then crossed the intersection, left the roadway, travelled down a steep embankment, and ultimately rolled into a drainage culvert.

Detective Sergeant Amos confirmed that the family involved are local residents, adding a profound sense of sorrow to the incident within the community. The Major Collision Investigation Unit is meticulously examining all potential factors that may have contributed to the crash, including weather conditions and vehicle speed.

“There were some fairly substantial fog patches around this area,” Sergeant Amos noted, highlighting one of the environmental challenges drivers faced that night. He also issued a stark warning to motorists, particularly those navigating rural roads. “It’s a back country road, it’s dark and you’ve just got be careful,” he urged, stressing the importance of heightened vigilance in difficult conditions.

Authorities are appealing for anyone who witnessed the Catani crash or possesses dashcam footage from the area around the time of the incident to come forward. Information can be provided anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers.