Black ice proves fatal

By Elizabeth Lillis
FAMILY members of a Pakenham woman killed in a traffic crash on Christmas morning have urged motorist to slow down and take care in difficult road conditions.
Police said 50yearold Lynne Kenworthy lost control of her vehicle after she hit black ice on the road near Nar Nar Goon. Her car then collided with a water filled plastic construction barrier.
Ms Kenworthy was driving a Hyundai sedan travelling east on the Princes Freeway about 6am when the crash occurred.
Ms Kenworthy, who was the sole occupant of the car, died at the scene.
After the crash, Ms Kenworthy’s sister, Michelle Olsen, urged drivers to take more care and slow down.
“You might be half an hour late, an hour late, but you will get there and at least you will be alive,” she said.
Cardinia Traffic Management Unit Sergeant Peter Garton said the weather conditions contributed to the crash.
Hail and sleet fell early on Christmas morning in the area.
Ms Kenworthy was travelling to work at a Warragul nursing home when the crash occurred.
Ms Kenworthy is survived by three adult children and one grandchild.
Ms Olsen said her sister lived for her family.
The crash was one of three on Christmas day in the region.
Casey Traffic Management Unit Sergeant Pat McGavigan said a 21yearold Thornbury motorist died in a collision in Berwick when he lost control of his Ford Falcon at 2.10am while travelling along the Princes Freeway.
The driver died at the scene while his two passengers, a 23yearold Glen Huntly man and a 19yearold Northcote man, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
A Blind Bight man also died after his car crashed into a tree in Cannons Creek.
The man was killed after his car left the road and collided with a tree at 2.30am.
The man died at the scene.
He was the only person in the car.
Cardinia’s road toll for 2006 was five deaths compared with eight deaths in 2005.
Cardinia remained free of fatalities until July 2006 and three of the fatalities occurred in December.