The sole survivor of a 'horror' fatal crash in Victoria's west is showing signs of recovery in hospital, as the community mourns the loss of four people who died in the tragedy.
Key points:
- Tributes are flowing for the four people killed in a single-car crash near Hamilton in western Victoria
- The mother of one of the teenage victims has launched a fundraising appeal to help cover funeral costs
- Support services are being offered to the Hamilton community in wake of the tragedy
Two teenage girls, two teenage boys, and a woman aged in her 30s were all involved in the crash outside Hamilton on Saturday.
A 17-year-old girl, the sole survivor of the crash, is still fighting for her life in the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, but there is hope that she will make a recovery.
Police believe the driver of the car lost control of the vehicle on Wannon-Nigretta Falls Road, near the small community of Bochara, before hitting a tree.
Four of the crash victims attended secondary schools in Hamilton, including Baimbridge and Monivae colleges.
The mother of one of the teenage victims, year 10 student Joshua Elmes, took to social media to express her grief and try and raise funds for the families' funeral expenses.
"I am just a parent who needs to help in some way in memory of my son," Lee Elmes wrote.
"I would love to help the other grieving parents who have lost angels, or have one badly hurt."
Ms Elmes wrote that the fundraiser was to help with "funeral costs" for "the grieving families" and "any other expenses in the next coming weeks and months".
"I just want to say that our angels are in heaven and no longer in pain, and we will one day see them all again,' she said.
Joshua attended Monivae College, where a collection of floral tributes continues to grow.
School principal Jonathan Rowe issued the following statement on Monday:
"We express our deepest sympathy to Josh's family and to all those who loved him, including his brother, year 7 student Aaron.
"We further extend condolences to all the friends and families of the other members of the Hamilton community who also lost their lives or were badly injured in the incident.
"Our colleagues at Baimbridge College are in our thoughts."
It is understood the eldest victim of the crash was Alicia Montebello, aged in her 30s.
Her brother Jaryd said she will be "forever in our hearts".
"Rest in peace my beautiful sister, taken way to soon, you were loved very much," Mr Montebello said on social media.
'Well in excess of 100kph'
The Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police's Road Police Command, Glenn Weir, told ABC Radio Melbourne that early investigations indicate the car involved in Saturday's horror smash was travelling "well in excess of 100kph".
The country road where the car crashed has a speed limit of 100kph.
"The issue is — to do that speed on that road at that time of day, anytime really, is just incomprehensible to me," Assistant Commissioner Weir said.
Investigations are underway to understand exactly what happened to cause the crash and who among the car's passengers were wearing seatbelts.
"It looks like a couple of the deceased weren't wearing seatbelts, so of course in such a high speed and powerful collision it's like a pinball machine when you're not wearing a seatbelt," he said.
Counselling offered to community
Southern Grampians Shire Mayor David Robertson expressed his grief in wake of the incident.
"The severity of it was just mind-boggling," Mr Robertson told ABC South West Victoria.
"To have four young people killed … and one still struggling for life in Melbourne … [is] just horrific."
Mr Robertson said the single-lane road's surface "is in good condition".
"As we understand it, it was dark in the very early morning, [the road is] lined with red gums," he said.
"It is 100kph speed there. There's a lot of detail that we probably won't know. They could've swerved to miss a kangaroo, there are a lot of kangaroos on that stretch of road."
Mr Robertson said police were still piecing together exactly what happened, and the Hamilton community was banding together at this time.
"Counsellors are making spaces available for the community to come in," he said.
"The schools, mainly Bainbridge College, have got two sites up there, one for the parents and the community, and the other for the children. And also at Monivae."
A Victorian Government spokesperson confirmed counselling was being offered for the affected school communities.
"Our hearts go out to the students, staff, families and community that have been impacted by this devastating tragedy," the spokesperson said.
"We request the privacy of the community be respected during this difficult time."