85-Year-Old Victorian Man Dies After Vehicle Found Down Embankment Days After Disappearing

An 85-year-old Victorian man has died in hospital after his vehicle was discovered down an embankment two days after he failed to return home from a dinner with his wife.

The man was identified as Jacobus “John” Bakkum, from Harrietville, Victoria, Australia.

On the evening of August 23, 2026, Bakkum had dinner with his wife at the Harrietville Hotel. His wife walked home while Bakkum drove their 2007 Toyota Prado back separately.

However, he never arrived home.

The vehicle was later spotted by cameras in the Omeo area, approximately 85 kilometers from Harrietville. At around 11:30 a.m. on August 25, a passerby discovered the Prado down an embankment off the Omeo Highway in Mitta Mitta.

Bakkum was still alive but trapped inside the vehicle. Emergency responders rescued him and transported him to hospital for treatment.

Despite receiving medical care, Bakkum later died on August 27 from injuries sustained in the crash.

His death has left his family and the local Harrietville community mourning, while the circumstances surrounding how his vehicle left the roadway remain part of the investigation.

Source: People.com