A TIRED driver made an unscheduled pit stop in Langwarrin last week – the backyard swimming pool off a house fronting Jarman Drive.
The 20-year-old, possibly sleep deprived, crashed through two fences and uprooted a tree in the accident off Centre Rd, 6.15am, Friday 10 February.
Extensive damage was done to fences and landscaping but no one was injured.
The Ford ute’s airbags deployed and the man, from Maffra, managed to swim out shocked but unscathed. He was taken to Frankston Hospital for toxicology and blood tests.
Frankston Leading Senior Constable Wayne Bogaars described the scene as “interesting”.
“The driver appears to have fallen asleep and veered onto the wrong side of the road but the collision would certainly have woken him up,” he said.
“The residents said they heard a loud bang and ran out to see the car bobbing about.”
A heavy capacity tow truck lifted the ute out of the pool. It was a write-off. It is not known how the pool fared in the collision.
“The driver was certainly lucky,” Bogaars said. “There were myriad things that could have gone wrong.”
It was just another day for the experienced policeman who said he had seen two cars in swimming pools in his 25 years’ service. The first was at Mordialloc.
Senior Sergeant Michael Lamb, of Frankston police, said an investigation into this incident was ongoing.
“We are awaiting the results of blood tests for drugs and alcohol. We are also investigating driver fatigue as an issue.
“Considering the circumstances of this incident with a car careering through fences, back yards and landing in a pool, it is amazing no one was killed or seriously injured.”
