Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 41-year-old Dennington man who lost control of his vehicle in heavy rain and slammed into a power pole near Allansford late Friday.
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South-west road safety adviser Senior Sergeant Cameron Ross said a car was travelling west along Princes Highway about 10.20pm when the driver lost control.
He said the driver had just finished work at Allansford and was heading home when his car left the road, crashed into a power pole and caught fire.
Emergency services attended but the driver died at the scene.
Senior Sergeant Ross said the impact was to the passenger side of the vehicle, which indicated the car had spun around about 180 degrees before the collision.
"We're in the initial stages of the investigation but weather and possibly water on the road will be examined as potential contributing factors," he said.
"The accident has happened about 100 metres west of the Jubilee Park Road turnoff.
"The power pole was snapped off and landed on the car, which is believed to have sparked the fire which engulfed the vehicle."
Senior Sergeant Ross implored all drivers to take care today with more heavy rain falling.
"The roads are slippery and visibility is poor. We want everyone to take car and drive to the conditions," he said.
"Take the time. If it takes an extra five minutes to get where your going it's worth it to get to your destination safely," he said.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or with further information or dash cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Diversions were in place on the Princes Highway but have now been removed and traffic is flowing freely.
In the past fortnight small trees have been removed from the median strip between the double lanes of the highway.
It was the second south-west fatality in two days after a 28-year-old man died following a single-vehicle crash near Woorndoo on Thursday.
That man played football for Allansford last season.
Police said the driver was travelling on Mortlake-Ararat Road about 9.45pm when he lost control of his utility.
Officers are investigating if distraction or other factors, such as alcohol, were contributing factors.
So far this year 22 people have died on Victorian roads, the same number compared to the same period last year.
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