Sunshine North crash: Melbourne man Graham Steinmann killed on his way home from work as his family issues surprising message for the driver
A cyclist who was killed when a car swerved from one lane into another and crashed into him is being remembered by his loved ones as the family’s rock.
Graham Steinmann, 42, was cycling home from work on Monday when he stopped at a medium-sized lane near the Sunshine Avenue overpass on the Western Ring Road in Sunshine North in Melbourne’s west.
His sister Jessica Steinmann said 7news.com.au that her brother was captured on dashcam footage waiting to cross the road safely.
However, she alleged that the driver, a 72-year-old woman from Kealba, crossed two lanes of traffic and hit her brother, before crossing two more lanes and crashing into a pole.
Mr Steinmann could not be resuscitated on the spot, but the driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
According to his sister, it appeared the driver had a medical condition at the time, but police have not yet confirmed this.
“It looked like they had no control over the car at all,” Steinmann said.
“It just seems like we were in the wrong place at the wrong time, it was completely unavoidable.”
Graham Steinmann, 42, (pictured) was riding his bicycle waiting on a central reservation to safely cross the road when he was hit by a car
The 42-year-old (pictured) who was described as a wonderful uncle and a “beautiful, kind soul” who supported his mother and two siblings who were unable to work
The 42-year-old, who had driven home the same route hundreds of times, worked at a local scrapyard.
Mr. Steinmann lived with his mother and two siblings, for whom he also cared.
His grieving family does not blame the driver for his tragic death.
Mrs Steinmann said it was “a complete accident” and the driver will have to deal with it for the rest of her life.
“The entire family is completely devastated by this unexpected loss,” Mrs. Steinmann wrote in a GoFundMe fundraising set up.
‘Graham worked hard to support our mother and two younger siblings who were at home and struggling to make ends meet.
“Mom still works, but our siblings who live at home can’t. Graham didn’t have insurance or super.”
Mrs Steinmann said her “loving big brother” was the family’s rock and always put his family above all else.
“He had such a great sense of humor. He was always happy and trying to crack a joke,” she said.
Mrs Steinmann also described the 42-year-old as a wonderful uncle with a “beautiful, kind soul”.
Mr. Steinmann died at the scene (photo). The 72-year-old driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Mr. Steinmann was born just two years after his father died of cancer.
The family spent all their savings on his funeral, leaving them with nothing to pay for the funeral expenses of their brother and son.
Mrs. Steinmann said she wanted to help her mother by raising money for a funeral or memorial service for her brother.
Over the past few days, nearly $3,200 has been raised.
Police are still investigating the fatal accident.