Cops reminded of deadly crash which killed four officers
A senior officer said events could have played out a lot worse for police following a terrifying hit and run on a city’s major road.
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Police officers are “lucky to be alive” after a car smashed into a stationary police car which was responding to a crash on a Melbourne freeway.
Police officers were called to the Eastern Freeway in Clifton Hill shortly before 5am on Thursday after a suspected stolen car had driven into barriers before the male driver fled on foot.
Shortly after, a silver Mercedes drove through the crash scene despite the presence of flashing blue and red lights and crashed into a police car before continuing along the freeway.
There were no injuries.
On Thursday morning, Acting Superintendent Troy Papworth said the police officers, whom he said were general duty officers, were lucky to be alive.
A police incident involving an alleged stolen car has closed lanes on a major Melbourne freeway causing significant peak hour traffic delays. #7NEWShttps://t.co/GKRFtllL1C
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) October 5, 2022
Superintendent Papworth said it showed how police situations “can turn so dangerous so quickly”.
“It highlights the dangers for us as police attending a reasonably routine traffic collision and how that can turn bad so quickly,” he said.
Superintendent Papworth said the officers were “very lucky” to be going home to their families.
Police said there was no description of the driver, and the crash caused substantial commuter delays.
The incident bore a similarity to the Eastern Freeway crash two years ago when four police officers were killed after a truck driver ploughed into them as they performed a routine traffic patrol.
In April 2020, two officers pulled over a speeding Porsche on the Eastern Freeway when two other officers arrived on the scene.
They were standing in the emergency lane when truck driver Mohinder Singh, 49, veered into the lane and killed all four officers.
The truck driver, who had been an ice user and had only had five hours of sleep in the three days before the crash, was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for the deaths.
Singh has since appealed the decision, with reasons that cannot be disclosed legally.
Victoria’s Chief Crown Prosecutor, Brendan Kissane KC, said Singh’s sentences were appropriate for his actions.
“He got into the truck and signed a fitness-to-drive certificate,” Mr Kissane said.
“He stopped to supply an associate with methylamphetamine on the side of the road.”
“The decision to drive was ultimately that of the applicant and there is no external circumstance.”
Yarra crime investigation unit detectives have urged anyone with dashcam footage or information on this morning’s accident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Originally published as Cops reminded of deadly crash which killed four officers
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