Arrest after officers killed
MELBOURNE: A drugaffected driver has been arrested more than 12 hours after fleeing the scene of a truck crash in which four Victoria Police officers were killed.
The 41yearold man, who is known to police, was being interviewed by homicide detectives yesterday.
‘‘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,’’ a police statement said.
Police have opened an investigation into the deaths.
Darren Bracken will run a coronial investigation and has told Victoria Police to compile a coronial brief of evidence.
The arrested man was behind the wheel of a Porsche pulled over by officers for speeding at 140kmh on the Eastern Freeway on Wednesday night. He had tested positive for drugs.
More officers were called to impound the car and while all four police were standing by the side of the road, a truck ploughed into them.
The Porsche driver ran from the scene. It is alleged he took photos of the crash and shared them on social media.
Flags flew at halfmast across Victoria yesterday in honour of the female senior constable, male senior constable and two male constables, one of whom had recently joined the force.
Many Victorians yesterday paid tribute to the deceased officers, bringing flowers to police stations.
‘‘It is an unprecedented event for us to lose so many officers in one event, officers just doing their work, just doing their job,’’ Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told reporters yesterday.
The truck driver had a medical episode after the crash, blacked out and was in hospital under police guard.
Police raided the truck driver’s Cranbourne home on Wednesday night but are yet to reveal what they found.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison called it a ‘‘dark day’’ for the police force.
Money is being raised to support the families of those killed. — AAP