Top traffic officer denies police driver was in pursuit in Gai Vieira accident

THE state’s top traffic cop has hit back at claims from the husband of Gai Vieira, who remains in a coma after her Mercedes was struck by a police car last week, that the officer was in a “pursuit”.

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THE state’s top traffic cop has hit back at claims from the husband of Gai Vieira, who remains in a coma after her Mercedes was struck by a police car last week, that the officer was in a “pursuit”.

Bert Vieira vowed on Thursday to stop police pursuits in NSW after his wife was T-boned as she turned onto The Kingsway at Cronulla last week.

The Vieira family also claimed the officer, who was chasing a driver using a mobile phone, was speeding at 140kmh.

The wreckage of Mrs Vieira’s car after the smash. Picture: TNV

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Traffic and Highway Patrol commander Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said the officer, who is yet to be formerly interviewed and is on leave, was travelling at 124kmh in the 70kmh zone when his car hit the 68-year-old’s.

Mr Corboy said officers were able to speed when exercising an “urgent duty” under the Road Transport Act.

“Our officer was trying to pull them over to give them a ticket for mobile phone use. It was an urgent duty, at 124kmh at one stage of that urgent duty,” he said.

Police are taking the accident “very seriously” Mr Corboy said. Picture: TNV

Bert Vieira (left) and wife Gai enjoy success at Royal Randwick earlier this year.

“We are taking this crash very seriously.”

He also reconfirmed that the police vehicle’s siren and lights were not on.

Mr Corboy said the forces’ safe driver police was divided into three parts ranging from obeying the road rules like all drivers, urgent duty and a pursuit.

Mr Vieira questioned why police needed to go so fast. He said doctors have told him his wife’s chances of recovery were “lineball”.

“We are asking today why police are chasing people for being on a mobile phone?’ he asked.

“I have asked the Deputy Police Commissioner and the Commissioner who is at fault for authorising this mobile phone operation. All the Deputy Commissioner wants to do is tell me the process.

“I don’t care about the process — I want my wife back.”