Melissa and Glen Thomas are calling for urgent action on Stevenson St after witnessing three serious crashes at the same section of road in five years.
On a bitterly cold and foggy Saturday morning on July 18, Murchison resident Melissa Thomas lay awake in bed beside her husband, Glen, looking forward to a quiet weekend.
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Then came a deafening bang.
The kind of noise that instantly sends a wave of fear through your body.
Unsure what had caused it, Mrs Thomas woke her husband and rushed to the front door of their home, where the sound had come from.
As she opened the door, the couple were met with a shocking sight.
“There was a car sitting in our front yard,” Mrs Thomas said.
“It had narrowly missed a power pole, destroyed our neighbour's corner fence, completely demolished our front fence and heritage arbour, torn through our garden and finally came to rest after striking a tree on the boundary of our property and our neighbours'.
“This is the third serious crash we've witnessed in five years at the same section of road, and every time we wonder if this will be the one where someone loses their life.”
Mr and Mrs Thomas have repeatedly raised road safety concerns about Stevenson St with authorities over the past five years.
They have contacted Victoria Police, Greater Shepparton City Council, VicRoads and local members of parliament, warning that the stretch of road poses an ongoing danger to motorists and nearby residents.
After witnessing three major crashes in the same location, all involving vehicles travelling from the same direction and, they believe, linked to excessive speed, the couple fear it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed.
However, Mr Thomas said their repeated warnings had so far been met with little acknowledgement, while the dangerous conditions remain unchanged.
“This is no longer a series of isolated incidents. It is an established pattern that clearly demonstrates an ongoing and foreseeable safety hazard,” Mr Thomas said.
“How many more warnings are required?
“How many more serious crashes must occur before decisive action is taken?
“More importantly, will it take the death of an innocent resident, pedestrian, cyclist or motorist before this known danger is finally addressed?”
Stevenson St is the main thoroughfare through Murchison and carries a significant volume of traffic, including heavy vehicles.
Although the posted speed limit is 40km/h, Mr and Mrs Thomas said many motorists regularly travel well above the limit.
They said the concerns extended far beyond their household, with residents living along Stevenson St and nearby River Rd also worried about the ongoing safety risks.
“Each of the three incidents we have seen has caused extensive vehicle damage and had the potential to result in serious injury or loss of life,” Mr Thomas said.
“Despite these repeated incidents and numerous warnings to the relevant authorities, nothing of significance has been done to improve safety.
“I also find it extremely concerning that police enforcement of the 40 km/h speed limit appears to be almost non-existent and the current lack of visible enforcement sends the message that speeding through the township carries little consequence.
“I appreciate that responsibility for Stevenson St appears to be divided between different government agencies, however, from a community perspective, jurisdictional boundaries are irrelevant and residents should not be expected to accept ongoing danger simply because responsibility is fragmented.”
Mr and Mrs Thomas want to see action taken as soon as possible on the section of road directly in front of their home.
They have called on all responsible agencies to work together as a matter of urgency to investigate the ongoing safety concerns and implement practical improvements.
These include stronger speed enforcement, a comprehensive road safety assessment, and any engineering or traffic-calming measures needed to prevent further incidents.
“The people of Murchison deserve better than waiting for a tragedy before action is taken,” Mrs Thomas said.
“School children walk beside this road five days a week.
“Families live here, people ride their bikes here and residents should not have to fear that the next vehicle coming through could cause devastation.
“We want something done before someone is seriously hurt or worse.”
Murchison residents Melissa and Glen Thomas fear it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed unless safety improvements are made along Stevenson St.
The aftermath of the July 18 crash that saw a vehicle leave Stevenson St narrowly miss a power pole, destroy a neighbour’s fence and come to rest after striking a tree on the boundary of the couple’s property.
Emergency services were called to the scene following the crash, which left a trail of destruction through the Thomas family’s front yard.
The vehicle involved in the July 18 crash came to rest in the front yard of Melissa and Glen’s Murchison home.
In June 2024, a vehicle travelling from the Tatura direction approached the bend at excessive speed, lost control and crashed into a parked vehicle outside the couple’s home, destroying both vehicles.
In March 2026, another vehicle travelling from the same direction failed to negotiate the same corner, collided with a V/Line bus (on the opposite side of the road) and came to rest opposite Mr and Mrs Thomas’s property after crossing the roadway.
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