- One woman dead, another seriously injured
- Yen Nguyen remembered as a sweet lady
A mother who died in a horrific crash is being remembered by her grieving family as a kind and loving woman, while her best friend fights for her life in hospital.
Yen Nguyen, 53, a bakery owner, was on her way to work when a food delivery truck collided with her van at a busy intersection in Bulleen, in the east of the city, at about 5.40am on Monday.
The mother of three died at the scene while her 63-year-old friend, in the passenger seat, was pulled from the wreckage by passing motorists and rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she remains in a critical condition.
The 28-year-old truck driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Ms. Nguyen and her husband owned a bakery in Heidelberg West for nearly 30 years, which remained closed on Monday.
“She was a sweet, down-to-earth woman, always willing to help everyone,” said her heartbroken daughter Katie Ly. Nine news.
-I can’t say anything bad about her.
“She brought the energy to this place, we don’t have it now.”
Bakery owner Yen Nguyen was on her way to work when tragedy struck.
The intersection of Manningham and Bulleen streets was closed for most of Monday morning following the horrific crash.
Passing motorists who rushed to help Ms Nguyen and her friend were left distraught by the incident.
The intersection of Manningham and Bulleen streets was closed in all directions for most of the morning, creating a nightmare commute.
Initial indications suggest the truck driver allegedly ran a red light, police said.
The exact circumstances surrounding the collision remain to be determined.
“It created, as you would imagine, a devastating collision,” Detective Sergeant Stephen Hill told reporters.
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit have launched an investigation into the horrific crash.
He added that it was too early to say whether speed contributed to the accident, but he would examine all possible factors.
Police have not yet questioned the truck driver. No charges have been filed at this time.
Ms Nguyen’s death brings the number of lives lost on Victoria’s roads this year to 167, three fewer than the same period last year.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV footage, dashcam footage or any other information to contact Crime Stoppers.
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