Victoria Police helped an elderly South Coast man find his way home after a nine-hour road trip that took him more than 600km off-course from Yass and into the wrong state.
The 80-year-old, named as Eric, of Pambula, set off from a friend’s Yass home about 7.15am on Monday for the 613km trip home.
Police believe he took a wrong turn and stayed on the Hume Highway, taking him across the border at Albury- Wodonga.
Constable Tom Windlow and Leading Senior-Constable Clayton Smith found Eric when they pulled into a roadhouse off the Princes Highway near Geelong about 3.45pm.
Eric was 630km west of Pambula, and 654km away from Yass, when his adventure ended. Senior-Constable Smith said, ‘‘I was stretching my legs, waiting for Tom to come back to the car when this little old man came up to me saying he was lost.
‘‘He handed me his mobile and asked if I could speak to his wife.’’
The man’s wife was frantic with worry, telling police he had been on the road for nine hours.
‘‘Believe me, we never expected forher to say he had driven from Yass,’’ the policeman said.
The officers took Eric to Sunshine police station, where he met friends.
‘‘He was such nice gentleman, full of stories and very grateful for our help,’’ Senior-Constable Smith said.
‘‘Although we had to laugh. When we asked him why he hadn’t stopped earlier he replied, ‘I just like to drive.’ ’’
Eric, who has slight dementia, and his wife were reunited yesterday. AAP
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