An elderly man was lucky to escape with non-life threatening injuries after a horror early morning crash in Denbarker on Wednesday, when his car hit a tree and rolled on to its roof, trapping him inside.
The crash was one of two incidents in the area, with a second vehicle rolling on Albany Highway in Narrikup less than half an hour later amid heavy fog that blanketed the Great Southern early on Wednesday.
Police officers from Mt Barker and Albany attended the crashes, which were under similar circumstances and occurred less than an hour apart, just before 5am on Wednesday.
A WA Police spokesperson said emergency services were called about 4.30am after a car hit a tree off Denmark-Mt Barker Road in Denbarker, near the intersection with Wragg Road.
The crash caused the vehicle to roll, coming to rest on its roof with the driver, a man in his 70s, trapped inside.
Crews from Mt Barker and Denmark Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the scene to free the driver, who was the only person in the vehicle when it crashed.
St John WA transported the man under lights and sirens to Albany Health Campus for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.
Firefighting crews righted the car to make the scene safe, leaving the small vehicle a mangled mess after the crash.
Photos taken by the Advertiser from the scene show the extent of the damage to the car; windscreen and roof smashed, front doors bent inwards and metal debris strewn across the roadside, reinforcing how lucky the driver was to escape without serious injuries.
A second driver, a man in his 30s, had a lucky escape after his car rolled on Albany Highway in Narrikup, near Chorkerup Road, about 4.45am.
A WA Police spokesperson said the driver, who was again the vehicle’s only occupant, was not trapped and escaped without injury.
Heavy fog blanketed the Great Southern on Wednesday morning, rendering visibility on the roads in the region poor.
Mt Barker officer-in-charge Sgt David Swain said seeing two similar crashes in the area in less than an hour was “concerning” and it was a good reminder for drivers to slow down and take extra care in poor weather conditions like rain or fog.
“Drive to the conditions,” he said.
“It was extremely foggy this morning and that kind of weather adds an extra element of risk on the roads.
“We’re still investigating these incidents that happened this morning but it’s likely the inclement weather was a big factor in both of them.
“We all want to get to our destinations safely, so if the weather conditions aren’t perfect, slow down and be careful.
“If it takes an extra half an hour, then it takes an extra half an hour.”