18-Year-Old Charged as Community Mourns; Family Hails Victim's Lasting Legacy Through Organ Donation
A 43-year-old woman from Corio passed away in the hospital after being involved in a suspected hit-and-run accident on 11 August.
The incident occurred early in the morning at around 6:45 am at the intersection of Plantation Road and Washington Street, prompting emergency services to the scene following reports that a car had hit a woman.
It is believed that the car and its driver fled the scene before the police could arrive.
The victim was urgently transported to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries just after 6 pm the previous evening.
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit have arrested an 18-year-old man from Corio, charging him with dangerous driving causing serious injury, careless driving, failing to stop, failing to render assistance, and driving while suspended.
The family released a statement: “Words cannot express the devastation we feel as a family. Tania was friendly to everyone and a person with so much heart. She was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, and aunt. There is no way to express the emotions we are feeling at this time and we ask the public to respect our privacy whilst the matter is being investigated. We are extremely thankful to the members of the public, police, paramedics, and emergency services that did all they could for Tania. A special thanks to the wonderful and compassionate ICU staff at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for caring for Tania in her final days. We are so proud that Tania’s last gift was to donate her organs so that others can continue to live their lives.”
Authorities have now decided to elevate the charges against the accused to dangerous driving causing death.
He is scheduled to appear at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on 3 December.
