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IN PHOTO: A driver checks a of load of imported Japanese Mazda cars atop his truck at the Sydney Ports Car Terminal April 29. Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto met his Australian counterpart John Howard in a meeting today, with trade liberalisation and the importance of Japanese auto investment major topics in their discussions. Hashimoto expressed his concerns that reductions in Canberra's car tarrifs might hurt the Japanese car makers that produce in Australia. AUSTRALIA JAPAN

A white Mazda collided with another car coming from the opposite direction on the Princes Freeway of Duncans road, resulting in death of a man and causing serious injuries to a woman on Friday at 12:20 a.m. The man, who was driving the Mazda, took the wrong side of the road and drove for almost 12 kms on it before meeting with the accident.

Police tried to intercept the unnamed man, in his 50s, by sending patrol crews to stop the car. They also tried to close on ramps and a section of the freeway but the car collided into another coming from the opposite direction within just few minutes before anything could be done. According to ABC news, police said the car was driving inbound on the outbound lanes of the freeway. Acting Senior Sergeant Tony Jenkins said there were a number of warning signs along the way by which the driver could have known that he was on the wrong track.

"That's the disappointing part, that somebody has chosen to do this," he said. "There was ample opportunity for them to remove themselves from the freeway but they've continued to drive on the wrong side of the freeway. There was a lot of traffic on the freeway. We're fortunate there's only a couple of vehicles involved here."

The female driver of the other car, which collided against the white Mazda, is in her 50s as well and was trapped inside the car for about an hour before being rescued by the fire crews. She has been admitted to The Alfred Hospital in the intensive care unit with serious injuries.

A taxi also crashed against the two vehicles and the driver. A man in his 20s was taken to Footscray Hospital with minor injuries. Sergeant Trevor Poulton said the man was not speeding but it is still not clear whether he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Age reported that police are asking witnesses to come forward and explain what they saw. Poulton also said that it was possible that he had pushed other cars off the road before ending up in the final crash.

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