The heartbroken family of Mary-Anne Cutajar are marking a devastating milestone – one year since the beloved mother-of-four was tragically killed on Melbourne’s M80 Ring Road.
Mary-Anne, 46, was driving near St Albans on November 7, 2024, when a riv-nail driver system fell from the back of a truck, bounced off the road, and smashed through her windscreen, killing her.
The truck driver didn’t stop.
Instead, the vehicle was last seen heading towards Altona, leaving behind a shattered family and a community desperate for answers.
Despite an extensive investigation by Victoria Police’s Major Collision Investigation Unit, the person responsible remains unidentified.
The most recent development came nearly a year ago, on November 28, when police executed search warrants at two properties in Epping and Hallam.
A 40-year-old man from Mernda was interviewed but later released without charge.
Since then, the trail has gone cold.
Mary-Anne Cutajar (right) died while driving, after a unsecured truck load smashed into her car
Victoria Police say the case remains ‘active and ongoing,’ and have issued a renewed plea for information.
‘Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives continue to appeal to anyone with information who is yet to come forward,’ a police spokesperson told The Herald Sun.
Mary-Anne had only recently married her husband, Daniel Cutajar, in January 2024.
The couple had just returned from a joyful trip to Gozo, Malta, a place close to Mary-Anne’s heart, having lived there three decades ago.
She leaves behind four children and three grandchildren, all of whom are still grappling with the sudden loss.
Her daughter, Laura Grech, shared a tribute in the days following the tragedy.
‘Rest in peace mum. Love you heaps and miss you like crazy,’ she said.
‘I know you’re always there for me even though you’re not here anymore.’
The truck driver who was ahead of Mary-Anne Cutajar (left) remains at large a year on
Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy described the incident as ‘a tragic situation’ and made an emotional appeal to the driver to come forward.
‘Mary-Anne’s family are trying to grieve the loss of a mother, a wife, and they’re trying to assist us the best they can and grieve in these really, really sad circumstances,’ he said.
‘Please, if it is yourself and you have now identified through searching of your equipment and your tools that you are missing this item… please come forward and let us know so you can assist us with our inquiries.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.