Jim and Carmel Madden, aged 81 and 80, were in their bedroom when a truck left the Princes Highway just after 7am and struck the Tower Hill town house.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and found the truck had severely damaged the front of the house, with tiles and wood strewn across the lawn.

The couple died inside their home.

Their family declared themselves Friday evening “totally devastated by these tragic events”.

“Jim and Carmel dedicated their lives to their family and gave us so many opportunities and they were immensely proud of us all,” read a statement released by police.

“While it may be difficult for everyone, they would like us and all their valued friends, the communities of Tower Hill and Koroit, and everyone in the farming and racing industries to continue working to make the world best.

“Love to all, from the proud family of Jim and Carmel. »

Brent Hollinshead, who was the Maddens’ neighbor for 16 years, was shocked.

“This is amazing. Rip Jim and his beautiful wife Carmel,” he wrote on Facebook.

A friend said the couple were “lovely” and gave “so much” to the community.

“Even when (Jim) was short of hay himself, he would always stretch it out to make sure our horses didn’t go without and would always offer us what he could. He was a very generous and kind kind of man,” Leonie Slaninka told the Herald Sun.

“The community has lost a great man.”

A neighbor described the couple as “the nicest people”.

Victoria Police are reportedly waiting to interview the truck driver, a 70-year-old Portland man, who was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A medical episode or falling asleep at the wheel are two avenues of investigation.

Detective Sergeant Stephen Hill of the Major Accident Investigation Unit, speaking at a press conference, said the truck left the road and traveled up to 250 meters before hitting the house.

“I can’t say they haven’t erased the speed over those 200m, but clearly they haven’t erased the speed you would expect,” he said .

“So how this happened and what was happening in the truck at the time is under investigation at this point, but clearly we have an open mind.”

Detective Sergeant Hill added that the highway is a straight road and why the truck veered off course will be a key part of the investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.

According to Victoria Police, 226 lives have been lost on the state’s roads so far this year.