Driver Encounters Venomous Snake on Melbourne Motorway

A motorist was compelled to make an unplanned stop on a Melbourne motorway after discovering a lethal snake inside her vehicle, reportedly ascending her leg. Victoria Police were summoned to conduct a welfare check on the woman, who was described as “acting hiss-terically on the side of the road” while attempting to flag down passing cars. The woman informed officers that she had been driving at 80km/h (50mph) on the Monash freeway when she sensed something on her foot. Melbourne Snake Control was contacted to retrieve the animal, which was identified as a tiger snake, recognized as one of the world’s most venomous reptiles. The driver was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure, but paramedics indicated she appeared to have escaped unharmed. Victoria Police stated, “Remarkably, she was able to fend the snake off her and weave through traffic before pulling over and leaping out of her car to safety”. Officers noted she had been “rattled” and “in a state of shock”. Police added that passing drivers were “left in bewilderment” as the snake was extracted from the car; Tim Nanninga from Melbourne Snake Control observed that some motorists in traffic began to video the removal. He told ABC News that he released the snake back into the wild “well away from houses, people and pets”.