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Elderly driver hit gas instead of brake leading to multi-car crash: VicPD

Charges won't be contemplated until after investigation is completed

Victoria police believe an elderly driver pressing the gas pedal instead of the brake set off a chain of events that included a pedestrian and four other cars being struck last Wednesday.

VicPD crash team analysts continue to investigate the noon-hour incident, which forced the closure of Blanshard Street from Hillside to Caledonia avenues for the afternoon of June 13.

The chaos began when a gold Toyota Corolla, heading north in the curb lane on Blanshard Street, ran a red light at Bay Street, striking a 40-year-old woman walking across Blanshard, police say. The pedestrian suffered a broken leg.

"(She was) very lucky," said Victoria police spokesperson Mike Tucker. "It could have been much worse."

The Corolla then struck another vehicle and veered into the southbound traffic lane on Blanshard, where it sideswiped two cars and hit another head-on.

The 85-year-old driver and his 82-year-old female passenger suffered minor injuries.

No charges will be contemplated until the investigation is complete, Tucker said.

emccracken@vicnews.com