• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Click here to read
  • Click here to read
  • Battery given go ahead for grid connection
  • A big leap to overseas event
  • Big Al wows ’em, Strikers uproar
  • Felicia eyes off further black type
  • Edithvale-Aspendale get on the board, Stonecats impress
  • Alteration of subway plans for Frankston
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Interviews»Moment of madness, but no end to family’s pain
Interviews

Moment of madness, but no end to family’s pain

By Stephen TaylorApril 19, 2021Updated:April 21, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
Fatal scene: The mangled wrecks strewn across Nepean Highway, Mount Eliza. Image: Courtesy Channel 9 News
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

ON a cold, wet night in Mount Eliza two years ago, Kalinda Nheu died when the driver of the yellow utility in which she was a passenger lost control, crossed the median strip, and skidded into the path of an approaching Ford Territory.

The impact of the collision killed the 19-year-old and the male driver of the ute instantly, while the driver of the Ford was seriously injured.

Somerville Highway Patrol police last week shared a video of the consequences of the tragic collision on Nepean Highway, opposite Mount Eliza Way.

The video was part of Operation Nexus held over the Easter long weekend which targeted speed, drink/drug driving and mobile phone use.

In it, Kalinda’s father, Steven Nheu, recounted the pain of his family’s loss, and explained how their life had changed “in one second”.

He said the events which occurred on the “hardest night of my life” were not a dream from which they would awaken but would continue to haunt the family forever.

“To this day we still think about her; her bedroom is still empty.”

Mr Nheu said he would have liked to ask the young, also deceased male driver why he chose to speed: “Didn’t he think about the consequences?” he asked.

“I would be happy to get this message out to even one or two other young people: that would be enough.

“They have to remember that their parents suffer forever.”

More than a job: Leading Senior Constable Brent Thickens.

Leading Senior Constable Brent Thickens recounted the trauma of arriving at the fatal scene and trying to make sense of what had happened, all the while dreading having to deal with the consequences. “The hardest thing to do is dealing with the aftermath and having to relay it to the families,” he said. “I’ve been in the highway patrol area since 2012 and, maybe, I’ll get to a stage where I can’t do it anymore.”

He pleaded with drivers to slow down. “You are not invincible.. You have got a few seconds to make the right decision. Speed kills and the faster you go the harder you hit.”

While Leading Senior Constable Thickens was happy to share the family’s sad story and reiterate how lives can be lost in a second, it seems the message to “slow down” is still not getting through.

Mornington police were patrolling northbound on Peninsula Link at Baxter over the Easter long weekend when they came across a two-car collision, 2am, Saturday 3 April.

As they directed traffic around the scene, and with police cars and emergency services crews on either side of the road, a grey Mitsubishi drove by at “well over the 40kph limit required when police vehicles have their emergency lights flashing”.

The male driver, of Keilor East, was found to be over the limit and will be charged on summons to face court at a later date.

First published in the Mornington News – 20 April 2021

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Volunteers track koalas for science

May 2, 2022

Quartet steered by a fair wind

April 19, 2022

Rugged Tasmania a lure for peninsula painter

March 28, 2022

Touching lives by taking to the skies

March 21, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
May 26, 2022 - Thu
Mornington, Australia
13°C
broken clouds
broken clouds
5 m/s, NNW
76%
762.07 mmHg
thu05/26 fri05/27 sat05/28 sun05/29 mon05/30
light rain
14/13°C
light rain
13/13°C
light rain
13/12°C
light rain
13/12°C
moderate rain
10/9°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

May 26, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

May 26, 2022
Council Watch

Shire’s carbon neutral backflip

May 23, 2022

Shire offers $500,000 to performing arts

May 2, 2022
Elections 2022

Peta Murphy wins second term in Dunkley

May 23, 2022

Shire accused of being off track with pledges

May 17, 2022

Security takes precedence

May 17, 2022
Interview

Volunteers track koalas for science

May 2, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

Alteration of subway plans for Frankston

May 23, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.