About 11.55 a.m. Tuesday 9 September 1980 Senior Constable Townsend was performing patrol duty in the Wallan area. As he travelled along the exit ramp of the Northern Highway at the intersection with the Hume Highway he was caught by a strong gust of wind and lost control of his machine. Both he and the motor cycle crashed to the roadway and then skidded into the railing at the side of the exit ramp. Townsend was taken to Kilmore Hospital but was found to be dead on arrival.