Eastern Freeway crash: Truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa under police guard

Police are waiting to interview the driver of a refrigerated semi-trailer involved in a collision that killed four police officers, who remains in hospital.

Detectives investigating the tragic collision that killed four Victorian police officers — the single biggest loss of police lives in the state’s history — will look at what made a semi-trailer veer into the emergency lane where two police vehicles and a Porsche 911 were stopped.

Victorian Police Commissioner Graham Ashton told reporters on Thursday morning police have yet to interview the driver of the refrigerated semi, Mohinder Singh Bajwa, who is under police guard in hospital.

But what is known already is that the vehicle “appears to have moved from one of the traffic lanes of the freeway into the emergency lane and travelled a short distance in the emergency lane at around 100km/h”.

Mr Ashton said Mr Bajwa suffered a “medical episode”, “which seemed to involve him blacking out”.

Mohinder Singh Bajwa, the truck driver that was involved in a crash on the Eastern Freeway that killed four police officers.

Police said Mr Bajwa suffered a medical episode.

The truck slammed into the back of one of the two police vehicles and collected the other police vehicle and the Porsche before coming to a stop. The Porsche — which was allegedly being driven at high speeds by Richard Pusey, 41, ended up under the front grill of the truck.

Police say Mr Pusey fled the scene but has this morning been arrested and is co-operating with inquiries.

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney were today identified as the four police officers killed.

The wreckage of the Porsche involved in the collision. Picture: Scott Barbour/AAP

Emergency services work at the scene of a collision near on the Eastern Freeway. Picture: Scott Barbour/AAP

Mr Ashton says the moments before the crash will be looked at in forensic detail.

“It is still quite early in the investigation to describe exactly the movements of (the truck),” he said, noting that police will look at video from the freeway and video footage from other vehicles and from the officers.

The Commissioner confirmed police attended the truck driver’s home in Cranbourne, in Melbourne’s southeast, and carried out a search of the premises.

“What was found at that premises is still the subject of ongoing investigation,” he said.

The driver of the truck was not known to police and did not have an “extensive criminal history,” Mr Ashton said.

Police had pulled over the Porsche after it was allegedly seen travelling at speeds up to 140km/h.

He was drug tested and police say the test allegedly returned a positive reading. Highway Patrol was called to assist with impounding the vehicle when the truck crashed into them.

Floral tributes are beginning to pile up outside Boroondara Police station. Picture: Luis Ascui/Getty Images

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton was emotional on Thursday morning. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Porsche driver is accused of taking photographs of the crash site before fleeing. The photographs were posted on social media and police are working with Facebook to have them removed.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the four officers “died keeping the rest of us safe”.

“To live a life in the service of others is a deeply impressive thing. To lose your life in the service and protection of others is a tragedy,” he said.

Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said: “The police force is waking up feeling numb, the members, the men and women of Victoria Police are challenged deeply by this.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia is “deeply grateful” to the officers “for your service”.

“It is a dreadful and terrible reminder of the dangers that you face every single day. You step up every day, you stand between us and that danger every single day.”