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National

Man dies in Canberra's south as car crashes off bridge and into stormwater drain

The fatal car accident happened at Greenway, in Canberra's south, on January 26. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

The ACT has recorded its second road fatality in the space of a week, after a man died when his car crashed off a bridge and into a stormwater drain in Canberra's south last night.

Emergency services were called to Drakeford Drive in Greenway about 8pm on Wednesday and found the car overturned in the drain.

The man, whose age is not known, died at the scene.

Drakeford Drive was closed between Taverner Street and Athlon Drive for some time while police and emergency services attended the scene.

On Thursday morning, a crane was brought in to lift the car from the drain.

ACT Policing's Detective Acting Inspector Paul Hutcheson said investigations into the crash were continuing, but witness accounts had given officers a clearer understanding of the lead-up to the crash.

"The driver died at the scene, sadly, despite the best efforts of passers-by who assisted and contacted ACT emergency services, with police officers, ambulance, paramedics and firefighters attending, all trying to revive the male.

"I would urge anyone with any information in relation to this collision or any dashcam footage from the area about the time to contact CrimeStoppers either via 1800 333 000 or via the ACT CrimeStoppers website. I would remind people that information can be provided anonymously if you request."

Passers-by tried to assist the man

A car is towed away from Greenway on Thursday morning after a fatal accident on Wednesday night. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

Detective Hutcheson said despite the sad outcome, he was thankful to the passers-by who stopped at the scene to assist.

"I'd particularly like to thank everyone who assisted at the scene following the collision in very difficult circumstances," he said.

Detective Hutcheson said the driver sustained serious injuries to his whole body, and "very significant head injuries".

"[The passers-by] were very shaken up, we've only had a really preliminary conversation with them at the moment [so] we got a very brief description of what had happened ... and then we provided some welfare to them and got them away from the scene," he said.

Second ACT road fatality in 2022

ACT Policing is investigating a collision on Black Mountain Peninsula on Monday in which a 72-year-old cyclist passed away.  (Supplied: ACT Policing)

The man's death is the second road fatality in the ACT this year; the first occurred earlier this week on Monday.

ACT Policing received a report at 11:35am that a 72-year-old man on a bike had collided with a tree on Black Mountain Peninsula.

Police and ACT Ambulance Service attended, and the male cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. 

"Both fatalities this year were in very different circumstances, but all of them are tragedies," Detective Hutcheson said.

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