A man has died following a fatal car accident in Cockatoo, Victoria, on Tuesday morning, September 1, 2026, after the vehicle he was driving left the roadway and crashed into a tree.
Victoria Police said emergency services were called to Paternoster Road at about 7:25 a.m. after reports that a car travelling southeast had left the road and collided with a tree. The male driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, died at the scene. His identity has not yet been formally released.
Police have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. At this stage, authorities have not publicly confirmed what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway, and no further details about the driver’s condition before the collision have been released.
Investigators are also seeking the driver of a red vehicle that was travelling in the opposite direction and passed the crash location shortly before the collision. Police said the red vehicle is not believed to have been involved in the crash, but its driver may have information that could assist the investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or has information that could help investigators is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.
The fatal Cockatoo crash has left a community mourning as investigators work to establish exactly what happened in the moments before the vehicle struck the tree. Police have not yet released the man’s name, pending formal identification and notification of his family.
