Police foot chase to be examined in young man’s death

The use of police foot pursuits will be examined as part of an inquest into the death of a young man who was hit and killed by a car while being chased by police.

Bak Deng was struck and killed by a car while being chased by police at Deer Park in April 2019. Pic: SBS

The use of police foot pursuits will be examined as part of an inquest into the death of a young man who was hit and killed by a car while being chased by police.

Bak Deng, a much loved role model in his South Sudanese community, suffered fatal brain injuries when he was struck by a BMW as he darted onto Ballarat Rd at Deer Park on Good Friday 2019.

Moments earlier Mr Deng had been pulled over by highway patrol officers near the Deer Park Hotel and admitted to driving without a licence.

A Coroners Court directions hearing into Mr Deng’s death on Thursday heard the 29-year-old had a history of driving offences and told his friends in the car he was worried he would be arrested.

Shortly after 7.10pm, Mr Deng got out of the car and began to run from the scene, prompting one of the officers to give chase.

Mr Deng then jumped over two metal barriers and crossed two median strips on Ballarat Rd and was “almost immediately struck” by a passing car.

Mr Deng was thrown into the air by the impact and came to rest on the left hand lane, the court heard.

The apprentice roof tiler and avid musician was pronounced brain dead in hospital the following day on April 20.

The court heard Mr Deng was kept on a ventilator for four more days as his mother raced home from Canada to her son’s bedside.

Mr Deng’s mother and two sisters attended court to watch the short hearing.

The court heard the family had arrived in Australia from South Sudan in 2006 when Mr Deng was 17-years-old and was described as a “good role model” in his community.

The soccer fan and musician also appeared in an SBS documentary titled “Tackling crime with rhyme” in 2017.

An inquest will examine the circumstances which lead to Mr Deng’s death, the appropriateness of the decision to initiate a foot pursuit and if all guidelines and training were complied with in this case.

The two day hearing will also investigate whether there is anything to suggest current legislation and policies surrounding foot pursuits should be amended.

Footage from police body worn cameras and testimony from the two highway patrol officers will form part of the evidence.

A date for the inquest is yet to be set.