A Melbourne man has been caught driving at 172km/h in a 100km/h zone in Victoria's west last night.
Police detected a Toyota Camry travelling well over the speed limit on the Western Highway in Nhill just before 10pm.
Members from the Horsham Highway Patrol followed the car and also detected it travelling at 139km/h in an 80km/h zone.
The driver was pulled over and returned a positive preliminary drug test. He refused to accompany police for an oral fluid test.
The 26-year-old man, from Brunswick, will be charged on summons for driving at a dangerous speed and refusing an oral fluid test. His car will also be impounded.
One reader has taken umbrage with our description of the crash being near to Werribee Open Zoo.
He says saying it's near the zoo gives motorists the impression they can get to Werribee without issue however its before the Maltby Bypass before drivers have a chance to exit the freeway to Werribee.
Point made, but it is a significant marker, and we stand by the description.
The crash site, Werribee Open Zoo. Photo: supplied
Better take a look at the weather.
It is 14.9 degrees, but feels about two degrees cooler. A top of 22 degrees is forecast, with a cloudy morning but we will come up smiling in the afternoon with a sunny one.
Good day for fishing, and a good excuse for a pretty picture from Age photographer Jason South.
Here is an alternative for getting around the traffic on the Princes Freeway inbound near Wests Road.
VicRoads says motorists can exit at Lara and use local roads into Werribee, then back onto the freeway. And a tweet with another alternative.
**PRINCES FWY UPDATE** - 2 lanes now OPEN Melb bound at Wests Rd - TAKE Lt River exit head to BULBAN RD and then into Werribee #victrafic
— Jimmy Traffic (@JimmyTraffic) December 21, 2016
A family living in Melbourne's west are lucky to be alive after their house was engulfed by flames earlier this morning, reports Broede Carmody.
Firefighters rushed to a house on Moira Street, Sunshine, about 4.30am to find the single story weatherboard well alight.
It took fire crews about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control. About half of the home has been destroyed by the fire, while the other half has been damaged by smoke and water. The wall of a neighbouring home was also damaged during the blaze, however firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading to other properties.
Investigators are on route to determine how the fire started.
The family, consisting of a couple and their daughter, have found other accommodation but are understandably shaken.
Back to topEmergency services are on site at the Princes Freeway crash near the Werribee Open Zoo.
VicRoads says the crash scene is under Victoria Police control.
Motorists should avoid travel through the area and seek an alternative route. It is messy out there and the accident scene is not expected to be cleaned up before the end of the morning peak.
There will be delays at travelling from the west.
Paul Ryan from the CFA told Channel 9 the Princes Freeway crash was a timely reminder for people to remain vigilant on Victorian roads over the holiday period.
"Take your time, make sure you look well ahead, travel safely and make it home for Christmas," he said.
A semi-trailer has run up the back of a roadwork vehicle on the Princes Freeway. #9News pic.twitter.com/WT2Zd1lIkV
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) December 21, 2016
More on the crash, this time from The Age's Broede Carmody:
Ambulance Victoria says a man in his 40s sustained cuts and abrasions and was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.
More on the Princes Freeway crash that has closed two lanes.
A truck has hit a another smaller truck travelling with a line-marking crew on the Princes Freeway just before Wests Road, at Cocoroc, on the outskirts of Werribee, near the Werribee Open Zoo.
The truck-mounted attenuator took the impact of the crash. This is a vehicle used to protect road workers ahead.
The crash happened at 2.30am. Two lanes are closed inbound but a third is open.
The clean up is expected to take a further one to two hours.
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The headlines: A van reportedly carrying gas cylinders has driven into the Australian Christian Lobby headquarters in Canberra, causing an explosion; the Victorian Health Department has issued an alert for symptoms of listeria in the lead up to Christmas after one person has died and six others have been hospitalised; and retired Independent MP Tony Windsor has used some colourful language to dare conservative Cory Bernardi to quit the Liberal Party.
The van that drove into the Australian Christian Lobby's headquarters and exploded in Canberra. Photo: Twitter/@LyleShelton
Good morning and welcome to Melbourne Express.
We will be back soon with the news headlines, transport updates and weather. Straight off the bat, we can tell you the Princes Highway has a crash which has closed two lanes inbound from Geelong just before the Werribee Open Range Zoo. We will find out more on that.
The last of the sunlight on the longest daylight hours for 2016 over Port Phillip Bay. Photo: Leigh Henningham.
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