A FATAL tragedy rocked Yarrawonga and the North East on Tuesday night at Loops Track campsite.
Police said a 45-year-old Yarrawonga man was killed by a large fallen tree branch while his wife and teenage son were left injured around 7:10pm.
Sergeant Shaun Hillier of Wangaratta Highway Patrol said the 45-year-old along with his family were driving out of Loops Track at Yarrawonga attempting to escape a storm when the branch fell and landed on their moving vehicle.
“I believe their other route was blocked by a tree which is why they’ve decided to go the way they did, which is unfortunately where the incident occurred,” he said.
Sgt Hillier said the 45-year-old died at the scene, while the woman and the boy were able to exit the vehicle before paramedics arrived.
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He said the two locally-based family members were taken to Wangaratta hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, where they have remained as of 11:30am Wednesday.
“We offer our condolences to the family; we’re doing everything we can to support them and anyone else involved in the incident,” he said.
“They were doing nothing wrong; they were simply trying to get out of the area when a severe storm struck.
“Unfortunately when you’re in these areas and storms come through freak accidents like this do happen.
“It’s a terrible accident.”
Police will prepare a report for the coroner detailing the circumstances leading up to the fatality.
Around 8.4mm of rain fell between 7pm and 7:30pm Tuesday night at Yarrawonga according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s recording station, with peak wind gusts reaching 78km/h at 7:04pm.
BOM issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Wodonga, Yarrawonga, Wangaratta, Bright and surrounds at 7.45pm, which was replaced by an advice alert at 8:26pm.
A SES spokesperson said Yarrawonga SES volunteers responded to just under 20 Requests For Assistance (RFA) between 6pm Tuesday and 9am Wednesday to be by far the busiest in the Hume region.
Callouts were largely related to tree falls and building damage.
The spokesperson said Chiltern (two RFAs), Beechworth (one RFA) and Myrtleford (one RFA) SES units were also active.
A Wangaratta SES unit spokesperson said the worst of the storms missed most parts of Wangaratta.
According to the BOM, thunderstorms are predicted throughout the region for the rest of the week.
In Wangaratta, some reprieve from showers and storms is predicted on Thursday according to BOM forecasts as of 12:30pm Wednesday, but high chance of rain and possibility of storms are expected for Friday and Saturday.
Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency website/app/hotline.
You can report new power faults and emergencies online www.ausnetservices.com.au/outages/report-a-fault or on 13 17 99.
For emergency services, call the SES on 132 500.
