The Coroners Court will investigate two fatal car crashes at the same Strathmerton intersection in just over a year where six people died.
Tasmanian man Kerry Rushton died in a crash between his Toyota HiAce van and an unmarked police Ford Ranger at the intersection of Murray Valley Hwy and Labuan Rd on February 15 last year.
The court heard he was travelling north on Labuan Rd when he failed to give way, crashing into the police vehicle, which was travelling west on the Murray Valley Hwy.
Mr Rushton braked 1.75 seconds prior to the crash and his van was still travelling at 100km/h when it collided with the police vehicle, which was also travelling at 100km/h.
In a second fatal crash at the same intersection, five people died after their ute was involved in a collision with a car and a truck on April 20 this year.
Deputy State Coroner Jacqui Hawkins named those who died as Cobram woman Debbie Markey and four overseas residents: Pin-Yu Wang, Hsin-Yu Chen, Wai Yan Lam and Zih-Yao Chen.
A directions hearing was held at the Coroners Court on Thursday, May 25, just over a month after the April 20 collision, which was the worst crash in the past 11 years in Victoria.
The Coroners Court will carry out an independent investigation into the causes of the deaths of the six people and look at how to reduce further deaths from occurring at that intersection.
Counsel assisting the coroner Lindsay Spence told the court normally coronial inquests would occur after the charges were finalised in the criminal court, but in this case the coronial inquest should run at the same time as criminal proceedings, as there were matters the coroner would investigate that the criminal court would not.
The coroner will investigate the accident history of the intersection — including fatal and non-fatal crashes.
She will also investigate changes that have been made at the intersection since the crashes, as well as any planned changes, and the time frame on them being completed.
The coroner will also investigate police procedures after a driver involved in the April crash was intercepted by police prior to the fatal collision.
Ms Hawkins said she made the decision to investigate the two collisions together.
“Once I realised that this (second) accident happened at exactly the same location as Mr Rushton’s death, it needed urgent attendance to,” she said.
Among those represented at the inquest will be the families of three of the overseas victims from the multiple fatality, who, the court was told, do not want such a tragedy to happen to other families.
Also represented will be the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, the Victoria Police chief commissioner and Moira Shire Council.