Tragedies trigger police plea

Narrogin police have urged the community to slow down and drive safely in the wake of a tragic couple of weeks on the roads. A series of crashes last month, including two fatal crashes within days of each other, has sparked a warning from local police to all road users. Tributes flowed last month after two young fathers were lost in separate crashes in one heartbreaking week. Another crash about 11.30am on Monday last week, near North Bannister, put a man and a woman in their 60s in hospital with shoulder and chest injuries. “It’s been a very stressful time for the victims’ families and the investigators looking into the fatalities,” Narrogin Senior Sergeant Brendan Woodford said. Sen. Sgt Woodford said he wanted drivers to exercise caution in every situation. “Ensure you are driving safely, give consideration to other drivers and drive to the conditions,” he said. “People have been cooped up at home during the COVID-19 crisis, so there may be an eagerness to get back out on the road but people still need to abide by the rules.” In the week after the fatal crashes, two erratic drivers were allegedly caught speeding in the region by Wheatbelt police. A P-plate driver was allegedly clocked at 172km/h on Albany Highway on Saturday, May 23. Narrogin police were on patrol when they stopped the driver in the early hours of the morning. Officers impounded the car and allegedly seized drugs and paraphernalia. On Sunday, May 24, a driver was allegedly caught speeding at 95km/h in a 50km/h zone through Williams. With the increased traffic and stormy weather, police said it could have been a disaster. Sgt Woodford said dangerous drivers would be held to account. As the roads got wetter, he said people should drive to the conditions. “Adjust your speed as necessary, make sure your tyres are of the correct standards to ensure you are being safe for yourself and others,” he said. “As we start to get back to reality, make sure you also have a road plan and a fatigue management plan.”