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A group of nine cyclists has run into a dead kangaroo in the middle of an Australian road, sending them into the path of an oncoming four-wheel drive (4WD).
The accident, which occurred in the northern Victorian city of Shepparton on Monday morning, injured seven of the riders, leaving one stuck under the car for 15 minutes.
Shepparton police Sergeant Steve Murray said the leader of the pack of cyclists only sighted the kangaroo at the last second. The leader managed to avoid the marsupial carcass -- kangaroos are often accidentally hit by Australian motorists and left for dead - - but the others didn't have time to react.
"The others have hit the 'roo and gone down and there's been a bit of a concertina effect," Murray told Fairfax Media on Monday.
The trapped man, who was freed after a rescue team used a special airbag to lift the car, suffered serious chest injuries and was flown to Melbourne hospital.
"Unfortunately, the man was trapped under the car for a short time," Ambulance Victoria's John Morris said in comments published by News Corp on Monday.
Another three of the cyclists were also transferred to local hospital in a stable condition.
Murray said glare on the road, as the sun rose around 6.40 a.m., may have played a part in the accident.
"There might be a question of sun glare," he said.
The 4WD driver stopped at the scene to help the injured cyclists, and is now assisting police with their investigation.
