Investigation into fatal Victoria car-lorry collision underway


The lorry hit officers at the side of the Eastern Freeway in Kew. Image via AAP

Victoria Police have located the driver of a Porsche believed to be involved in the fatal collision involving the death of four police members in Kew yesterday.

“He is currently being spoken to by police and is assisting Homicide Squad detectives in relation to the investigation. The investigation into the exact cause of the collision remains ongoing,” Victoria Police said.

The multi-vehicle collision occurred inbound on the Eastern Freeway near Chandler Highway just after 5.30pm. On Tuesday at about 17:40 local time (08:40 GMT), two officers had pulled over the Porsche on to Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway near Kew.

 

According to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, “Two members of the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section intercepted a 911 Porsche bearing the registration LLC001. The Porsche had been travelling at speed. Officers intercepted the vehicle and it pulled up in the emergency stopping lane. On a check of the vehicle and speaking to the driver, a fluid test was conducted and returned a positive result for some type of drug in the system.”

Chief Commissioner Ashton said due to the speed the car was travelling, and the drugs found in the driver’s system, the decision was made to impound the vehicle.

The officers decided to have the car impounded and called for other officers to assist them. Two more officers then joined them and all were standing out of their cars when a refrigerated lorry drove into them and the Porsche.

The Porsche driver had fled the scene on foot after the incident.

According to Ashton, the incident is under investigation and some detail would not be known until after interviews are held. The lorry driver (male), injured with non-life-threatening injuries, is not yet able to answer questions.

Motorists have been asked to avoid the area as the road will be closed for some time.