NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller slams Leumeah RBT crash driver
POLICE Commissioner Mick Fuller has slammed the acts of a driver who severed the leg of one officer and injured another when he crashed into the officers while allegedly using his mobile phone last night.
NSW
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POLICE Commissioner Mick Fuller has blasted the acts of a driver who severed the leg of one officer and injured another when he crashed into the officers while allegedly using his mobile phone.
Speaking outside Liverpool Hospital today — where the two officers remain in a stable condition — Commissioner Fuller said the 22-year-old man from Ruse could have killed anyone.
“Whilst it is easy to say that this is some sort of tragedy, it is clearly not,” he said.
“These are the actions of a driver that could have taken the life of any community member, but is aggravated by the fact that two officers were out on a Friday night trying to protect the community from this type of driving behaviour.”
Commissioner Fuller said the male driver ran into the back of a police vehicle, trapping the two officers at about 8.20pm on Friday on Campbelltown Rd at Leumeah.
The officers are from Camden and Macquarie Fields Highway Patrol commands.
The senior constables have been described as experienced operational police who are both in their early 30s, married with young families.
“Thank God we did not lose a life last night,” Mr Fuller said.
“Can I also acknowledge the officers at the scene who rendered first aid immediately.
“Officers applied a tourniquet to one of the officers with the most serious injuries and most likely saved his life.
“Yes they are (awake and conscious this morning). I spoke to one of the officers this morning and he was in good spirits.
“The officer with a more serious injury, thankfully he has been upgraded.
“His condition has improved. He still in ICU but we are hoping to get him to a normal ward today.”
Commissioner Fuller said the families are “obviously upset”.
“The phone call that I got last night — and the phone call that I got in January when we had an officer stabbed — they are the worst calls you can get as the commissioner,” he said.
“It is a constant reminder of the dangers on our roads.
“We talk ad nauseam about traffic safety and some days you have to wonder what we have to do to get some of the public to understand the dangers of texting, drink-driving and other types of behaviour. It is costing lives on our roads.”
The driver has since been charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, causing bodily harm by misconduct in charge of a motor vehicle, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and using a mobile phone when not permitted.
His licence was suspended and he was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.