The elderly couple who died when a truck crashed into their bedroom have been remembered as pillars of their community, as their “totally devastated” family breaks their silence.
Retired farming couple Jim Madden, 81, and his wife Carmel, 80, were killed when a truck traveling east on the Princess Highway veered onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into their property in Tower Hill, in regional Victoria, around 7am on Friday. .
Their ‘proud’ family issued a heartbreaking statement saying the couple were loving and kind and always wanted to make a difference in the lives of others.
“Jim and Carmel dedicated their lives to their family and have given us all so many opportunities and were immensely proud of us all,” the statement read.
“As difficult as it may be for everyone, they would want us and all their valued friends, the communities of Tower Hill and Koroit, and all those in the farming and racing industry, to keep working to make the world a better place.”
“Love to everyone, from the proud family of Jim and Carmel.”
Shocking photographs from the scene showed the catastrophic damage to their home.
The driver, 70 years old and the lone occupant of the truck, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Jim Madden, 81 (pictured right) and his wife Carmel, 80 (pictured left) died when the truck crashed into their property in Tower Hill, around 7am on Friday after that he left the road.
Footage from the scene showed the truck crashing into a meadow, crashing into a fence and tumbling down the side of the house before tearing off part of the roof.
It is understood the truck, believed to be traveling from Port Fairy to Warrnambool, was unloaded.
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit previously arrived at the scene and emergency services had to wear protective equipment as the house had been contaminated with asbestos.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Hill of Victoria Police said investigations are ongoing.
“We kept an open mind to what was happening,” he told reporters at the scene on Friday.
“Whether it’s a mechanical failure of the truck, whether it’s a medical episode involved, whether it’s inattention, whether it’s phone use, all of those things are going to have to be looked at in the coming days.”
The devastated family of the elderly couple (pictured) issued a heartbreaking statement saying the couple ‘wanted to make the world a better place’.
Sgt Hill described the section of road as “straight” and said there would be no reason for vehicles to swerve unless they were overtaking.
Locals in the close-knit community were devastated after their deaths and described the couple as hard-working people.
A neighbor, Leonie Slaninka, told the Herald of the sun the couple would always help others.
“They were a lovely couple who gave so much to the community and south-west Victoria,” Mrs Slaninka said.
Peter Archbold, owner of Mickey Bourke’s Koroit Hotel, told the newspaper he had known the couple for 40 years.
‘They are community-minded people. They liked everything that had to do with horses, shows and flowers.
Mr and Mrs Madden were also farmers and sold livestock at the Warrnambool saleyards before they closed last year.
Footage from the scene showed the truck after crashing into a meadow, crashing into a fence and tumbling over the side of the house before the vehicle picked up part of the roof (pictured).
Madden was also a successful horse trainer and his family was in the agricultural business for decades before the couple tended livestock on their property.
According to the 2021 census, around 83 people live in Tower Hill.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that may assist police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
