Logan Dreier death: Coroner slams cops for failing to comply with pursuit policy

A coroner has slammed police over the death of a teen in a stolen ute during a high-speed pursuit on the Gold Coast, saying he would likely still be alive had all officers complied with the Queensland Police Service pursuit policy.

A coroner has slammed police over a high-speed police pursuit which left a teenager dead.

Logan Dreier, 18, died when the stolen ute he was driving flipped multiple times as he tried to negotiate the corner of Southport-Nerang Rd and Queen St about 9.30am on Friday, August 9, 2019.

An inquest earlier this year heard the pursuit reached speeds of over 170km/h.

Handing down her findings in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, Deputy Coroner Jane Bentley found that Logan’s death was preventable and in all likelihood would not have occurred had all officers complied with the Queensland Police Service pursuit policy.

Logan Dreier was killed after crashing during the pursuit.

Ms Bentley found that two officers, top traffic cop Senior-Sergeant Bradyn Murphy and Sergeant David Martin, both had a comprehensive understanding of their obligations under police policies and procedures but failed to comply with them.

She said Sen-Sgt Murphy failed to provide crucial information led to senior officers being unable to gain an accurate understanding of what was happening.

Ms Bentley said Sgt Martin and senior officers had failed to take control of the pursuit and abandon it.

The aftermath of the Southport crash that killed Logan Dreier. Picture: Glenn Hampson

She said had the pursuit been properly called by Sen-Sgt Murphy and controlled by Sgt Martin, a 4WD police vehicle and other units would have been used to ‘tactically’ apprehend Logan and his passenger.

Ms Bentley found that the pursuit should have been abandoned before Logan entered Southport-Nerang Rd.

“The continuation of it posed a serious risk to the public, the police officers involved, Logan and his passenger,” she said.

But the Queensland Police Union has leapt to the defence of Sen-Sgt Murphy, saying it ‘respectfully disagrees’ with the Coroner’s criticism.

“Senior Sergeant Murphy is a highly decorated, respected, experienced and professional police officer,” union president Ian Leavers said.

“The Queensland Police Union and Snr Sgt Murphy’s colleagues fully support him.

“The deceased was well known to police at the time he crashed the stolen ute.

“We need to remember that leading up to being pursued by police, the deceased’s actions including burglary, break and enter of homes and the eventual car theft and dangerous driving of the stolen car all occurred.

“The police involved have also been traumatised by this incident and no police officer should have to experience these types of events.”