WA roads: Victorian woman charged after harrowing footage emerges of near-death collision in WA’s south

An interstate driver has been charged over an “extraordinarily dangerous” act where they tried to overtake a triple road train on a regional WA road.

Shocking footage obtained by The West Australian shows the 21-year-old driver from Victoria allegedly behind the wheel of a white hatchback attempt to overtake a truck before almost colliding with an oncoming road train on April 2.

The video, captured by truck driver Andrew Cox, shows the car illegally crossing a double line while trying to overtake, as both vehicles round a corner on the South Coast Highway in Dalyup, about 20km west of Esperance.

SEE THE VISION IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

The car pulls over to the opposite side of the road and Mr Cox is forced to take evasive action in order to avoid a major crash, which police say could have been fatal.

Mr Cox said he slammed the brakes suddenly while travelling at 98km/h and that the incident could have “quite possibly” been deadly if his his 123.5 tonne (loaded gross mass) truck had not been empty.

On Monday, police had tracked down the female driver and charged her with one count of reckless driving.

Commander Mike Peters, of road policing command, slammed the alleged actions of the woman after five people died in crashes over the Easter weekend.

“Overtaking a triple road train in this manner is extraordinarily dangerous and places lives at immediate risk,” he said.

“Heavy vehicles cannot stop or manoeuvre quickly, and one reckless decision can have catastrophic consequences for innocent road users.

“We will not hesitate to take action against drivers who engage in this type of behaviour.

“Drivers are reminded that impatience behind the wheel can lead to serious injury or death, and it will be dealt with accordingly.”

Cmdr Peters said the incident served as an important reminder for drivers to be patient and only overtake when it is both safe and legal to do so.

Less than an hour before the near-miss, police were attending to a fatal collision in Jarrahdale where 14-year-old motorbike rider Jaxxon Brinkworth was struck by a ute.

An 18-year-old woman died later that night after she was thrown from a car that rolled on Mudflats in Derby. A 34-year old man also died in hospital his car hit a tree in Como on Easter Sunday.

WA Police urge anyone who captured dangerous driving on dash-cam to make a report via crime stoppers online.