A YARRAWONGA man was tragically killed by a fallen tree branch in Yarrawonga during Tuesday night’s storm, with two others hospitalised.
Police said emergency services were called to a camping area at Loop Track in Yarrawonga around 7:10pm, November 26.
Reports stated a large tree branch had fallen onto a moving vehicle during the significant weather event.
The 45-year-old Yarrawonga man who was behind the wheel died at the scene.
A teenage boy was taken to Wangaratta hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while a woman was also taken to hospital for observation.
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Sergeant Shaun Hillier of Wangaratta Highway Patrol said thoughts of the police force are with the family affected from this "freak accident".
“We’re doing everything we can to support the family and anyone else involved in the incident,” he said.
“They were doing nothing wrong; they were simply trying to get out of the area affected by the storm.
“It’s a terrible accident.”
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
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, urging residents to take shelter.
This was replaced by an advice alert at 8:26pm.
An SES spokesperson said Yarrawonga SES volunteers responded to just under 20 requests for assistance 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.
