Police launch ice pipe probe into Eastern Freeway tragedy truck driver

More than 48 hours on, the truck driver who crashed into and killed four police officers in the Eastern Freeway horror smash is still yet to be interviewed by police. It comes as detectives probe whether he was high on ice after an ice pipe was found in the cabin moments after the crash.

Truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa will not be interviewed over the Kew police crash until at least Monday.

The semi-trailer driver was not seriously injured in the crash but spent a fourth night at the Royal Melbourne Hospital under police guard on Saturday.

Police say the father-of-two is still being assessed by medical experts who will determine when he is fit to be interviewed in the next two days.

Chief commissioner Graham Ashton had hoped detectives would be able to interview Singh Bajwa on Friday.

It comes as detectives were on Friday night investigating whether the truck driver who crashed into and killed four police officers in the Eastern Freeway horror smash was high on ice.

Police sources told the Herald Sun an ice pipe was found in the truck’s cabin moments after the crash in Kew on Wednesday.

Truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa was allegedly overheard saying “I was looking down in the cabin and I looked up and they were just there” before he blacked out after the crash.

Analysis will continue on how the truck swerved across lanes before hitting two police cars and mowing down the officers dealing with allegedly drug-affected driver Richard Pusey.

Investigators from the homicide squad and major collision investigation unit have been probing whether Mr Singh Bajwa deliberately crashed into the police vehicles.

Wednesday’s Eastern Freeway crash killed four Victoria Police officers. Picture: David Crosling. Picture: Mark Stewart

It is understood that is not the case but it had not yet been ruled out on Friday night.

Mr Singh Bajwa, whose blood sample was taken after the crash, remains in hospital.

Police said the father of two was still unfit to be interviewed on Friday morning but were hopeful of being able to talk to him on Friday night.

“The driver of the truck has been admitted to hospital. He is expected to remain in hospital for a number of days and is unfit to be interviewed at this time,’’ a Victoria Police spokesman said.

The blood sample taken from Mr Singh Bajwa has been analysed and police have been given the results, Mr Ashton confirmed.

“The driver of the truck is in medical care at the hospital,’’ Mr Ashton said.

“There’s an opportunity to have him reassessed as we speak by our medical forensic officers.’’

Truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa

There was no answer at the truck driver’s home on Friday.

One Cranbourne resident, who has lived beside Mr Singh Bajwa for more than 12 years, said he was shocked to learn his neighbour had been involved in Wednesday’s crash.

He said Mr Singh Bajwa was a “great guy” who had been driving trucks for many years. He said the truckie previously ran a business transporting new cars.

“I’m just shocked and sad that he’s in this situation. The family have been here almost as long as we have and we love them — they’re great people,” the neighbour said.

“There’s no way this could have been intentional. He’s not that kind of guy.

“He’s been driving trucks for years and he seemed to be healthy. I don’t know what happened.

“We haven’t heard from his family since it all happened. I hope they’re OK — we’d help in any way we can.”

Another local resident described Mr Singh Bajwa as “an awesome neighbour”.

“It’s been a shock for everyone. We can’t believe it,” she said. “I don’t know what happened but I think it must have had something to do with his health.”

One of Mr Singh Bajwa’s childhood friends from Griffith, NSW, said the truckie was never in any trouble growing up.

“As a young bloke he was into cars. He was a gentle soul who would not harm anybody,” he said. “He had moved away to Melbourne in the ’90s so I have personally not seen him or know what he has been up to.

“It’s a shock all right.”

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Originally published as Police launch ice pipe probe into Eastern Freeway tragedy truck driver