In a tragic incident on Wellington Road in Rowville, Melbourne’s south-east, 52-year-old father-of-two Yunesh Naidu was killed in a collision with a 30-tonne truck. The crash occurred at approximately 8:50 am on Thursday, only a kilometre from Mr Naidu’s home.
Mr Naidu, a supply chain director, was entering Wellington Road when the truck struck his Kia sedan. Reports suggest that the truck, driven by a 27-year-old Indian origin man from Dandenong, may have run a red light while travelling west down the highway.
This led to the catastrophic collision, flipping Mr Naidu’s car upside down and trapping it beneath the truck. The truck continued to cause further destruction as it hit another vehicle and a pole before stopping.
No other injuries were reported in the incident, despite the truck impacting two additional cars and a traffic pole, which fell onto a Mercedes. The truck driver is now aiding the police with their investigation into the crash.
Authorities are also investigating whether the truck’s brakes were defective at the time of the accident.
This incident has added to the concerns about road safety in the area, as it is the second fatal accident within 12 hours on Victorian roads. A 22-year-old had earlier died in a separate incident in Fitzroy North, Melbourne’s inner-east after their car hit a pole and flipped several times.
The crash drew a significant response from emergency services, including multiple fire trucks, ambulances, and police units, leading to the closure of the road to manage the situation.
Friends of the truck driver, who moved from India to Australia over a decade ago, described him as an experienced driver. He is currently being questioned by police at Knox Police Station regarding the accident.
Mr Naidu’s death has deeply affected the community, highlighting the ongoing concerns over road safety and the need for vigilant driving practices.
Support Our Journalism
Global Indian Diaspora needs fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today – with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors – is doing just that. Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon. Buy an annual ‘The Australia Today Membership’ to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
