Rules around elderly drivers are under scrutiny after a collision near a playground killed a woman, left a man fighting for life and a child with serious injuries.

The trio were walking on a footpath when a 91-year-old driver lost control of her car in Wantirna South, in Melbourne’s east, on Thursday.

The woman, 59, died at the scene while the man, 60, suffered life-threatening injuries alongside the two-year-old boy, who’s now in a stable condition in hospital.

Victoria Police have not revealed the connection between the three victims, but they are believed to be related.

Detectives are yet to interview the elderly driver, who they say was shaken by what happened and suffered minor scratches.

Her Toyota Yaris mounted a footpath and hit the trio before travelling down a hill and smashing through a fence, finally coming to rest after hitting a bench.

Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said the adults and child were walking in the same direction as the car was travelling when it struck them.

“It came from behind,” Supt Goldsmith told reporters.

“It looks like it’s (lost control) about 40m or 50m before the collision with the people who were walking on the other side of that road.”

The out-of-control car continued down the road for another 200m, hitting a street sign and running through the fence near a playground.

“No one was hit at the park, thankfully,” Supt Goldsmith said.

Police will look at whether speed was a contributing factor.

Victoria does not have age-based driving safety requirements in line with other jurisdictions.

However, drivers aged 75 must renew their licence every three years, which can involve various tests.

NSW, Queensland, ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory require drivers over 75 to have a health check, while older drivers in South Australia must complete self-assessments.

In Western Australia, an annual medical assessment is required after turning 80 to renew a driver’s licence.

Victorian Acting Premier Ben Carroll said the tragedy brought “into focus” previous calls for older people to prove they’re fit to drive.

“In relation to people that are elderly and driving, I think it is a valid question that you raise around testing,” he told reporters on Friday.

“I will work with the road safety minister on this.”

The crash happened during the first week of Victorian school holidays, bringing the state’s road toll to 14 in the past seven days.

“We’re facing a horrific month for road trauma,” Supt Goldsmith said.

The state has recorded a number of deadly crashes involving out-of-control vehicles in recent years.

In November, a kindergarten worker was killed and a three-year-old boy injured when a runaway truck smashed through the gate of Macedon Ranges preschool’s playground.

Two weeks earlier, an 11-year-old boy was killed and four other students injured when an SUV crashed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School in Melbourne’s east.

Five people were killed and six injured in November 2023 when a diabetic driver passed out and crashed into patrons seated outside the Royal Daylesford Hotel.

The driver was charged but the allegations were ultimately struck out, after a magistrate found there wasn’t enough evidence to support a conviction.

Source: AAP