Elderly man dies after rescue from car crash in Victoria

John Bakkum, an 85-year-old man from regional Victoria, has died in the hospital following a single-vehicle crash. Mr. Bakkum had been reported missing on Sunday evening after failing to arrive home following a meal at the Harrietville Hotel.

A major search operation was launched after his vehicle, a 2007 Toyota Prado, was spotted traveling significant distances through Mount Hotham and Omeo. He was eventually discovered by a passerby on Tuesday morning after his car plunged approximately 15 to 20 metres down an embankment off the Omeo Highway in Mitta Mitta.

Emergency services extricated Mr. Bakkum from the overturned vehicle, and he was transported via air ambulance to a hospital in Melbourne. While he was initially described as being in stable condition, his health subsequently deteriorated. Victoria Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding how the vehicle left the road.