EMERGENCY services have today responded to a number of crashes in the Bendigo area requiring patients to be transported to hospital with injuries.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Three patients were taken to Bendigo Health following a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Scott and Kennewell streets in White Hills, about 3pm.
All three patients were in a stable condition.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said a woman in her 60s was taken to hospital with chest injuries.
A second patient, a man in his 80s, was taken to hospital with back and knee injuries.
Paramedics also transported a woman aged in her 70s to Bendigo Health as a precaution. The Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the patient had no obvious injuries.
Another man was taken to Bendigo Health with injuries to his ribs and legs after a car and a motorbike collided at the intersection of Allies and Williams roads in Myers Flat, about 12.45pm.
Paramedics assessed two patients at the scene - both men aged in their 60s.
The man with rib and leg injuries was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
The other man had no obvious injuries.
Paramedics took another patient to hospital as a result of a third crash, which happened shortly before 6pm in Strathfieldsaye.
Three vehicles collided on Strathfieldsaye Road, near the intersection with Osborne Lane.
The Bendigo Advertiser understands one of the vehicles slowed to avoid hitting a dog.
Paramedics took a woman aged in her 30s to hospital with injuries to her chest and face. She was in a stable condition.
A primary school-aged boy was also assessed for shock. He did not need to be taken to hospital.
Today marks the start of a statewide policing operation aimed at reducing road trauma during the Queen's Birthday long weekend.
The four-day operation has several areas of focus, including impaired driving, increased traffic on rural roads, towing trailers and caravans, and trail bike riding in state forests and parks.
Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane has urged road users to work with emergency services to reduce road trauma.
"Police are doing everything we can to curve bad driver behaviour. But without the support and a change in the way people choose to drive we will continue to see carnage on our roads," he said.
He said the number of lives lost on the road would continue to skyrocket if the community continued to believe it would not happen to them.
Fifty-six more people have lost their lives on the road this year than last year.
People are questioning whether a sense of complacency is contributing to the road toll.
"Every day police continue to attend crash scenes where people have consciously chosen to speed, not wear their seatbelt or drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol," the assistant commissioner said.
"If you choose to drive this way and something tragic happens, you are ultimately choosing to put your family and friends through an unimaginable amount of pain."
Operation Regal ends at 11.59pm on Monday.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.