Geelong footy great Ray Card is charged by Victoria Police after horror traffic incident that killed his wife

Former Geelong football star Ray Card, 67, has been charged by Victoria Police following a road traffic collision just north of Geelong that killed his wife.

The former Cats player was taken to hospital under police guard after being seriously injured in the incident which occurred at approximately 11.20pm on Saturday night.

Card, of Grovedale, was driving a vehicle on Geelong Ring Road at Lara, just north of Geelong, when the accident allegedly occurred.

According News from heavenMr Card’s wife Mandy, 57, who was in the passenger seat, is believed to have died at the scene after the vehicles collided.

Victoria Police said the former footballer’s utility vehicle had collided with a BMW on the road.

“The driver of the BMW, a 23-year-old Lara man, and his passenger, a 19-year-old Lovely Banks woman, were taken to hospital with minor injuries,” police said.

Card (pictured) played 110 games for Geelong between 1977 and 1987.

Mr Card has been charged by police with “culpable driving resulting in death and dangerous driving resulting in death”.

“He was released on bail to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court on November 26,” the statement added.

The former Cats star was seriously injured in the crash and was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Card had been under police surveillance as authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.

Card, the Cats’ best and fairest winner in 1983, played 110 games for Geelong between 1977 and 1987.

“The former players and the club are deeply saddened by this news and Mandy’s passing,” the Geelong Past Players group told The Herald Sun following the incident.

“We are devastated and send our deepest condolences to the family.”

A tough defender, he continued playing local football as captain and coach of the Wangaratta Magpies in 1988 before coaching Milawa.

Card was seriously injured in the collision and was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

“He was very popular with the players… a man,” one of his Magpies players recalled in a 2018 interview.

“Any dispute on the field was normally resolved by Cardy confronting the opposing aggressor. He played hard and had more fun.

‘His powers of recovery surprised us. After a great night, we would drag ourselves to KFC for breakfast and watch him go by, hitting the bitumen in a 10km run.

Card moved his family to Geelong in the late 1990s and became involved with his former club. He served as a running back and assistant coach for the Cats Reserves.

While there, he worked with youngsters who became stars of the team, including Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett and Paul Chapman.

“I was particularly interested in the progress of Steve Johnson, who had been a bit of a tackler hanging around the rooms when I started training at Wangaratta,” Card said.

Card’s father George played 46 games for Geelong in the 1940s.