A driver who died in a freak accident when a large piece of metal crashed into her car on a Melbourne motorway has been identified as a mother of four.
Mary-Anne Cutajar, 46, from Deer Park, died when a piece of mechanical equipment went through her windscreen while she was driving on the M80 Western Ring Road, near Altona, about 4pm on Thursday.
Police believe the Riv-Nail drive system, a heavy tool designed to maintain conveyor belts, fell from a white truck traveling in another lane of the highway.
The object then crossed the highway and collided with Ms Cutajar’s car which was traveling in the Greensborough-bound lanes. The car was near the Furlong Road exit in St Albans at the time and she was the only occupant.
“We are all in shock, we don’t understand how this could happen,” said a family member. The Herald of the Sun.
Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Mark Amos confirmed the piece of metal “penetrated the windscreen and struck the driver”.
The Riv-Nail Screwdriver System is typically used in the mining, manufacturing and food processing industries to install rivets to attach metal clips to the end of conveyor belts.
The truck driver did not stop after the incident and was last seen heading towards Altona.
Mary-Anne Cutajar (pictured) died when a piece of metal believed to have fallen from a nearby truck hit her car
Victoria Police believe the metal piece was a Riv-Nail drive system (pictured), a tool designed to maintain conveyor belts.
It is unknown if the driver was aware of the incident.
All Greensborough-bound lanes were closed between Ballarat Road and Sunshine Avenue following the collision.
Police are looking to speak to the driver and have urged anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward.
Victoria Police major collision investigation unit detective inspector Craig McEvoy said it was “a tragic situation”.
“They’re trying to grieve the loss of a mother, a wife, and they’re trying to help us the best they can and grieve these really sad circumstances,” he said.
Police have not yet found the driver and have urged him to come forward.
“If you are yourself and you have now identified through searching your equipment and tools that you are missing this item… please come forward and let us know so you can assist us with our enquiries,” Inspector McEvoy said.
Detective Sergeant Amos added that drivers should carefully secure their loads on trailers and trucks.
‘We need to try to find some answers for this poor woman’s family because it’s a really sad series of events and we want to find out why it happened and give some answers (to the family) who unfortunately are going to go to the Christmas holidays this year. one person,’ he said.
Ms Cutajar (pictured) sadly died at the scene after the freak accident.
‘We need to be more careful; If you have cargo in the trailer or truck, simply secure it. If you see debris on the roads, report it.
‘We have to be responsible with what we do and until we start treating the roads with some respect.
“Sadly, I’m afraid I’ll have to do this for the rest of my life.”
Mrs Cutajar was the only person in the vehicle when the metal object hit her car (pictured by emergency services at the scene on Thursday).
