Charges are yet to be laid over a terrifying double motorcycle crash in Melbourne as shown in the above dash cam video.
The incident has sparked a lot of controversial debate on social media about whether the two male riders were speeding and the young female driver was impeded by a Muslim headscarf.
A University of Melbourne engineer has studied the video and claims the riders were exceeding the 60km/h speed limit, however they may only appear to be travelling fast because the driver was slowing down, presumable to enter the service station.
The 23-year-old woman driving the Toyota Camry had just left an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian church and was wearing a traditional Ethiopian scarf, not a Muslim hijab.
Victoria Police spokesman Thomas O’Byrne says they are still investigating the collision on Raleigh Road about 1.40pm on Sunday, July 17, 2016, and no charges have been laid.
He says he will contact us as soon as a decision is made about laying charges.
The woman was taken to hospital for observation but later released. Rider Steve Caruana, 42, was lucky to escape with a badly bruised pelvis, while the other rider, aged 37, suffered a broken leg. The riders are still in hospital in stable conditions.
Victorian Motorcycle Council spokesman John Eacott spent some time at the location yesterday viewing security camera footage from service station on the left.
John says it appears the woman was aiming to enter the servo and didn’t see the riders.
John Eacott“She actually accelerates into the space,” he says. “She’s made a judgement call and failed to see the bikes.”
He says the incident is another example of road safety being a “shared responsibility”.
“Roadcraft always dictates that you are fully aware of your surroundings, but it’s not unreasonable to expect other road users to at least comply with the road rules and take similar precautions to look out for other road users.
“We ride defensively, but to have someone accelerate into your empty road space is something no one can guard against 100% of the time.
“There are too many instances where motorists fail to look or fail to see motorcycles.”
John says it is “not unreasonable that someone who has caused an accident be held to account”.
“If she is charged, we sympathise with the consequences she must face, but more in our mind are the consequences being faced by the two motorcyclists, one of whom was incredibly lucky while the other will face months of rehab.”
John says he was heartened by the “wonderful reaction” of bystanders and fellow motorists.
“It’s heartening to see the speedy reaction of bystanders who rushed to the aid of the motorcyclists, a sight not often seen these days.”
Anyone with any information about the incident can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential online report.
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