SPEED is being blamed for a tragic collision at Mt Eliza last week in which a young couple ploughed into an approaching car – killing themselves and seriously injuring the other driver.
Apprentice hairdresser Kalinda Nheu, 18, of Pearcedale, and Pauly Khaled, 22, of Heatherton, were driving north in a yellow ute when it ran across the median strip into the south-bound lanes and collided with an oncoming vehicle on Nepean Highway, near Mt Eliza Way, 11.15pm, Monday 27 May. The other driver was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The pair were said to be car enthusiasts with car pictures and messages adorning their Facebook pages. On Mr Khaled’s Facebook page was a message: “Friends, countrymen, fellow travellers – it’s time to act! After years of travelling in the slow lane, we need a higher speed limit. Welcome then to our campaign: a crusade designed to increase the limit to 130km/h on our best highways, thus leading to less fatigue-related crashes on our roads.”
Friends and family on Tuesday night held a car meet to honour the pair. Those attending had been urged not to hoon or speed after a tribute video on social media appeared to show the ute the pair were in doing a burnout hours before they died.
Somerville Highway Patrol’s Senior Constable Greg Wolfe said the memorial car meet was well managed and had not caused any issues. He appealed to drivers to “concentrate and drive according to the weather conditions and within the speed limit”.
Witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage of the crash should contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Lives Lost:
2019: 140
2018: 88
First published in the Mornington News – 4 June 2019
