Victoria’s Chief Commissioner predicts ‘distressing’ Daylesford pub crash scene may ‘haunt’ first responders forever

The scene of the fatal crash at a Daylesford pub where an SUV ploughed into diners sitting in the beer garden was so distressing it may “haunt” the first responders forever, Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has revealed.

Two men in their 30s, a woman in her 40s and a boy were killed instantly when the BMW stuck their picnic bench at the Royal Daylesford Hotel just after 6pm on Sunday.

A girl was airlifted to The Alfred hospital but died shortly after arriving.

Five other people were taken to hospital with a range of injuries.

Mr Patton said you cannot train first responders for a scene so “confronting” and “chaotic”.

“I’ve spoken to the head of our road policing area who was at the scene and described it as one of the worst and most confronting that he had ever been to – and he has been to many,” Mr Patton said at a press conference on Monday.

“To the police who turned up, to the firefighters, paramedics, SES all of the emergency responders, we train them to attend these scenes,” he said.

“They attend these scenes regularly but to go to an incident like this that was so confronting, so chaotic and so distressing. You can’t train someone for that.”

Mr Patton praised the professionalism of the emergency services personnel who attended the scene but also acknowledged the emotional toll of responding to such a horrific incident.

“The way those members conducted themselves, police officers and the other emergency responders, was absolutely amazing, totally professional. But it comes at a cost,” he said.

“There were numerous people there, community members, visitors, many people in the proximity who selflessly came out and aided those who were dying, aided those who needed first aid.

“They will take those scenes with them for many, many years. Some may never lose that scene. It may haunt them forever.

“It’s one of the most confronting scenes, I’ve been told, that experienced officers have been to.”

Mr Patton also provided an update on the 66-year-old male who was driving the vehicle which struck the patrons.

The Mount Macedon resident was taken into custody following the incident and is being treated in hospital for minor injuries and shock.

Mr Patton said breath tests confirmed the man had no alcohol in his system. 

“He will be hopefully interviewed by our Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives later this afternoon,” Mr Patton said.

Witness at the scene Kimmi Mosciski recalled hearing a huge bang before seeing bodies on the road.

“There was carnage, there was bodies everywhere, it was almost like an explosion had gone off,” she told Sky News Australia on Monday. 

“I was panicked and shocked.”

Police remain at the scene and the public is advised to avoid the area as investigators attempt to piece together the exact circumstances leading up to the fatal incident.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.