Richard Pusey: foul-mouthed, rich Porsche driver who put police in truck’s deadly path

A foul-mouthed multimillionaire accused of driving his $150,000 Porsche 911 at up to 140km/h and testing positive for drugs is being blamed for fuelling the worst loss of police life in Victorian history.

A foul-mouthed multimillionaire accused of driving his $150,000 Porsche 911 at up to 140km/h and testing positive for drugs is being blamed for fuelling the worst loss of police life in Victorian history.

The deaths of four officers were sparked at 4.50pm on Wednesday when 41-year-old mortgage broker Richard Pusey was detained on the inbound lane of the Eastern Freeway, about 7km east of the CBD.

But as they dealt with Pusey, the four were killed by a truck about 5.40pm that had veered into the emergency lane as they processed the paperwork.

While the key to these deaths lies primarily with the Connect Logistics truck slamming into the back of the Porsche and two police cars, community revulsion has been focused on Pusey.

Pusey was led from his apartment on Thursday by detectives, wearing a black COVID-19 mask and a sports top with two tennis racquets emblazoned on the front.

He was last night charged with multiple offences including reckless conduct endangering life, destruction of evidence and three counts of indictable offence while on bail. He will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates court today.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Pusey was standing on the side of the Eastern Freeway after being detained by police. About 50 minutes after being pulled over, the inexplicable then happened, when the Volvo semi-trailer driven by Mohinder Singh Bajwa strayed across the freeway, into the emergency lane, crushing to death the four officers.

Pusey survived, scurrying into the night. Mr Bajwa remains in hospital.

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Joshua Prestney had all dedicated their lives to protecting the community.

King was 50, a father of three and with the force for six years, Taylor, 60, was a 31-year veteran with three police medals, Prestney, 28, was a triathlete who joined last year and Humphris, a former sports scientist, also joined in 2019 as a mature age officer.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton was calm.

“It will take time for many to recover from this tragedy, but we should take comfort in knowing that we stand together as a police family and as a Victorian community,’’ he said.

But as he prepares to end his days as chief commissioner, Ashton made clear his contempt for Pusey, who allegedly took pictures of the scene which were later posted on social media.

They were gruesome.

Ashton said police believed Pusey had stayed at the crash scene for a “very short time” and taken the photos before fleeing on foot into the suburban calm of inner eastern Kew.

“We’re trying to get them removed from Facebook. They’re quite graphic photos,” Mr Ashton said.

Truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa. Picture: Facebook

Asked what he thought of his actions, Ashton added: “Well, they’re disgusting”.

Amid emerging conspiracy theories about what might have happened, the truck driver is said to have suffered a “medical episode”, which may have been a blackout.

Depending on his explanation and any onboard cameras, the Cranbourne driver, from Melbourne’s southeast, could face a long jail sentence.

Police raided his home yesterday and have seized some evidence, although have not detailed what they are looking at.

Initially, tests will focus on why his truck strayed into the emergency lane with such devastating consequences, striking a highway patrol car, an unmarked police vehicle and the Porsche.

The Porsche, which was taken from the scene on Thursday covered with blue plastic, was a total write-off.

Pusey, meanwhile, surrendered to police in the morning, as his wild past was made known, including facing multiple charges that are unrelated to the freeway smash.

An ugly video rant emerged of him apparently screaming at a cancer survivor in 2016: “Get some more cancer, you stupid f..king slut. I hope you f..king die.’’

Named among Australia’s top mortgage brokers in 2016 and the owner of at least 10 properties across Melbourne, Pusey should be flying.

He has made millions out of property deals in recent years, living a Porsche-obsessed lifestyle few in his native Frankston could dream of; it is not known as Frankghanistan for nothing.

His million dollar suits, slick presentation and stake in Switch Now Home Loans, belied a troubled demeanour.

The crash scene in Melbourne on Wednesday. Picture: AAP

He is facing the strong possibility of serious charges flowing from the smash.

Police said on Thursday that Pusey was on bail for unlawful assault and theft charges and was due before Collingwood Neighbourhood Justice Centre later this month.

He was also on summons to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court to face a charge of criminal damage in June and will be investigated over a reckless trip along the Eastern Freeway on March 21 that has become infamous on social media in Melbourne in recent weeks.

It is not certain he was responsible for the chaotic driving.

Footage shows a 911 Porsche with the same number plate — LLC-001 — travelling at phenomenal speed near where Wednesday’s crash occurred. Police were told about the incident but were apparently unable to arrest the driver.

But on March 26 at 4.08am, a staff member of a luxury Port Melbourne car yard took pictures of the Porsche in Melbourne’s CBD because the number plate mimicked the generic letters and numbers used on all their supercars that were for sale.

However, Pusey’s was registered in Queensland and not Victoria.

“We don’t know him. Have never seen him. We didn’t sell the car to him. It’s not ours,’’ the staff member said yesterday.

An emotional Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp announced that several of the city’s major landmarks, including Flinders Street Station, the Bolte Bridge and Arts Centre would be lit up in blue in honour of the dead.

It is likely that once the pandemic crisis is over, that the dead will be honoured properly, given the restrictions caused by the virus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison embraced the policing community for its work protecting the nation.

“You stand between us and that danger every single day,’’ he said.