Authorities have identified the victims of a devastating crash in Victoria’s north-east as four farm workers from the Pacific Islands. The incident, which occurred south of Mansfield, is currently under investigation, with Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir from Road Policing Command suggesting alcohol may have played a role.
“These individuals from the Pacific Islands were working in the vegetable industry around Mansfield,” stated Assistant Commissioner Weir during an interview with Melbourne radio station 3AW. The victims, who shared a residence, had been visiting friends at Macs Cove on Lake Eildon before the crash on Mansfield-Woods Point Road in Piries.
“We believe they consumed alcohol, then drove back towards their home where the collisions occurred,” explained Assistant Commissioner Weir. Among the victims, Alesana Anetelea, a 34-year-old from Samoa who arrived in Australia in July, and David Gasologa were tragically killed in the crash.
As investigations continue, Assistant Commissioner Weir acknowledged the need to bring some relatives to Australia for the victim identification process. Additionally, on the same day, a separate incident near Bendigo claimed the lives of a driver and passenger who had recently arrived in Australia from Bangladesh. The circumstances leading to the crash on the Midland Highway are also under scrutiny, with authorities seeking to understand the factors that caused the hatchback to cross into the path of a truck and a ute in Goornong.