Community reels after teen killed in Carlton crash

The Carlton community has been rocked after a 16-year-old girl was tragically killed in a two-car collision on March 11.

Police allege a Volkswagen Passat collided with an Alfa Romeo on Lygon St just before midday, in which two pedestrians were hit by one of the vehicles as a result of the collision.

A 16-year-old Brunswick girl, who was a passenger in the Alfa Romeo, was critically injured and taken to hospital where she later died.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives charged a 40-year-old Essendon man with culpable driving, dangerous driving causing death and other offences.

He appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 21 where he was remanded in custody. He will return to court on August 3.

The news of the incident has left the community reeling, with the tragedy prompting calls for more road safety measures to be put in place.

Carlton Inc. executive officer Phillip Mansour said improving driver safety education, as well as supporting the victim’s family were critical.

“It hurts me to hear that someone has passed away in the precinct. I’m a father myself and to hear things like that is heartbreaking,” he said.

He said the installation of road safety cameras that detected speed and red-light offences, particularly along Lygon St which is 40km/h, was one step towards preventing similar incidents from happening again.

You’re not going to have police sitting on the street all day with speed radars, but there really needs to be a collaborative thought around how we can help prevent this from happening again.

Residents said hooning continued to be an issue in the area, in which one said “they don't care if they disrupt the enjoyment of Lygon and surrounding streets of people strolling, dining and shopping”.

“The hoons are winning. The aim of having rumbling engines and screeching tires and loud music is to draw attention to themselves,” the resident said.

Victoria Police Highway Patrol units are targeting dangerous driving as well impaired drivers and other driving offences in the area.

Photo: ABC News