Friend in blue during most tragic of times
IT WAS the greatest tragedy of Judy Brush's life - and it led to one of her greatest friendships.
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IT WAS the greatest tragedy of Judy Brush's life - and it led to one of her greatest friendships.
When the distraught mother lifted the sheet to say goodbye to her little girl, killed by a drunk driver who ignored her cries of terror, she did not notice the police officer nearby looking over the wreck of the car.
It would be two weeks before Senior Constable Sandy Bletchly, from the Forensic Crash Unit, would turn up at Ms Brush's house with a bunch of flowers.
Hayley Russell, a 20-year-old with dreams of fashion design and motherhood, died on the side of Windemere Rd after being pulled out of a crumpled car.
On the night of May 16, 2009, Hayley and her friends had piled into a car driven by 18-year-old Dylan John Campbell for a night at the casino.
Hayley did not know Campbell - an L-plater later found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.117 - but soon became very uncomfortable with the way he was driving.
Seconds before he lost control and hit an oncoming car, Campbell's passengers had been screaming for him to stop.
Paramedics tried desperately to save Hayley but her injuries were too severe.
When it was over, Hayley's distraught boyfriend crawled under the sheet they used to cover her body, wrapped his arms around her and sobbed.
"Her boyfriend was underneath with her, huddled up beside her," Ms Brush said.
"It was horrific. I just reached under and pulled him out of there."
It was the beginning of a rigorous and protracted investigation as the Forensic Crash Unit began gathering the material that would help them determine how the collision occurred.
For the officers of the unit, helping grieving families through their pain is part of the job.
The first time they met, Sen-Constable Bletchly spent hours with the distraught mum.
They developed a bond that remains strong.
"She was my strength the whole way through," Ms Brush said.
"She knows me so well - probably better than a lot of other people do.
"When you are vulnerable like that and you find someone you can completely trust, it means so much."