A young man from regional Victoria is set to face court this week after being involved in a fatal driving accident at a camping music festival in Rochester over the Australia Day weekend.
The tragic incident occurred during the Got Milk music festival, hosted at a private farm with attendance of around 300 to 400 punters over the weekend for the boutique event, which was not advertised publicly.
But the festival came to an early conclusion on Sunday (26th January) when a 35-year-old Melbourne woman was found dead in a collapsed tent at the property, as The Ballarat Courier reports.
The 35-year-old woman, from Yarraville – like most at the weekend music event – had camped overnight. Paramedics were called to Got Milk at around 9am, but the woman was found dead by the time they arrived on the scene after suffering severe head trauma, according to Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin of the Major Collision Investigation Unit.
The MCIU were called to the festival by paramedics at the scene to investigate if the death was a result of a car driving over the tent.
“She had obviously suffered a fair degree of trauma. There was a nurse attempting CPR on the deceased woman,” Inspector Rankin told the Riverine Herald.
On Monday, MCIU Detective Sergeant David Newman said Police had arrested a 24-year-old Lake Bolac resident, charging the man with numerous driving offences, including driving under the influence, failing to stop and offer assistance at the scene of an accident, and dangerous driving resulting in death.
The unidentified festival-goer was bailed yesterday and is set to face the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Friday 31st January.
Organisers of the event cancelled the festival following the death and removed the event’s associated website.
According to the Bendigo Advertiser, local Shire of Campaspe councillor Leigh Wilson tells Fairfax Media that the family who owned the property where the festival was held do “a lot of work in the local district” and had hosted the event annually for a number of years.
“They are a well-respected family, and I can only imagine that they would be devastated by this,” said Mr Wilson.
According to Ballarat Courier, an email sent from Got Milk organisers to attendees ahead of the camping festival cautioned against the risks of driving vehicles at the site, as well as information regarding first aid and responsible drinking.
“No driving: Keep your car parked once you get to the Milky Bay site. If you arrive after dark, leave your car in the first paddock and walk up to the party from there. It is probably a good idea to take your keys out of the ignition too,” reads the Got Milk information email.
“If you are not feeling well or have hurt yourself in any way, drop into the first-aid tent for a patch-up or a rest, and please (drink responsibly).”
(Image: Brilliant Creek. Source: Vimeo)
