old boy and parents dead after car hit by truck in western Victoria

A three-year-old boy and his parents have died after their car was hit by a truck at Stoneleigh in western Victoria.

The boy's grandmother was trapped in the wreckage and flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries. She is the sole survivor.

Victoria Police said the family's car failed to stop at a stop sign at about 9:30am and was T-boned at the intersection of Mount William Road and Eurambeen-Streatham Road, about 45 minutes west of Ballarat.

Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said the car spun several times before landing on its passenger side.

"We believe the car has travelled through the stop sign. The truck had right of way," he said.

"At this point in time, it appears there's no fault of the truck involved.

"There's nothing to indicate excessive speed was a factor."

Police said the boy's grandmother was speaking to investigators.

The family is understood to be from the Geelong region and the next of kin of the father, 41, and mother, 31, are yet to be notified.

"It's a terrible scene ... one life lost is one too many," Inspector McEvoy said.

"It's a rural road. There are stop sign precautions [and] warning signs before the intersection, and it appears that unfortunately the stop signs and the precautions haven't been followed."

The truck driver, who police said was local to the area, was taken to hospital in Ballarat.

It is understood he sustained minor injuries, has cooperated with police and is in the company of friends and family.

The child's grandmother, who was flown to The Alfred in Melbourne, was seated behind the driver.

The crushed car remains at the scene next to the B-double truck.

Police said the driver was on a familiar route and was driving back to his depot with his trailers empty.

The area has been cordoned off and surrounding roads are blocked while police and emergency services respond.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

So far this year, 247 people have died on Victorian roads, six more than the same time last year.

Editor’s note (11/11/25): An earlier version of this article stated two children and one adult had died in the crash. That incorrect information, provided by Victoria Police, was updated on Tuesday afternoon.