Police laud life-saving efforts of bystanders in Pine Lodge crash

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Ongoing investigation: Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances around a crash on a bridge across the East Goulburn main channel at Pine Lodge on Saturday. Photo: Google Maps

Three bystanders saved a man after the car he was driving struck a bridge over a channel east of Shepparton on Saturday night.

Shepparton police Sergeant Darren Wagstaff said a 68-year-old Shepparton man, who was travelling east on Cosgrove-Lemnos Rd, veered off the road and struck the side of the bridge across the East Goulburn main channel about 7.35pm Saturday.

The car flipped onto its roof and skidded about 25m to the other side of the bridge.

Sgt Wagstaff said two men, who were fishing in the nearby channel, as well as another bystander, helped pull the man from the upturned car moments before it burst into flames.

When emergency services arrived, Sgt Wagstaff said the car was “fully alight”.

“They’ve saved his life ... hard to think what would have happened to him if those bystanders hadn’t been there,” he said.

The man was taken to Goulburn Valley Health with non-life-threatening injuries.

Sgt Wagstaff said it was unclear what had caused the man to veer off the road into the bridge and inquiries were continuing.

He encouraged any witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident to come forward and assist police.