Mystery surrounds how refrigerated chicken truck driver slammed into two police cars killing four officers – as detectives raid his family home and wait to interview him in hospital after he blacked out
- Father-of-two Mohinder Singh Bajwa’s truck ploughed into two police cars
- Victoria Police searched his Cranbourne property on Wednesday evening
- Detectives are yet to speak to Mr Bajwa as he remains in hospital after blackout
- Truck veered into emergency lane of the Eastern Highway near Kew, police say
- Three male constables and a female senior constable died at the scene
- The police investigation into the tragic incident continues on Thursday
Police have raided the Melbourne home of the driver of the refrigerated chicken truck which ploughed into police cars killing four officers.
Mohinder Singh Bajwa, from Cranbourne in the city’s south-east, blacked out following the deadly crash on the Eastern Highway near Kew about 4.50pm on Wednesday evening.
The police officers had pulled over a speeding Porsche 911 when Mr Bajwa’s semi-trailer veered into the emergency lane and struck the stopped cars.
Three male officers – including a 28-year-old in his first week on the job – and a female senior constable were killed.
Chicken truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa blacked out following the accident on the Eastern Freeway near Kew, Melbourne, on Wednesday evening
Mr Bajwa – pictured with his wife – is under police guard in hospital. Victoria Police are yet to determine what led to the deadly crash
Deadly crash: Four police officers were killed in the incident on the Eastern Highway near Kew, Melbourne about 4.50pm on Wednesday. Above, the truck and smashed up Porsche 911
The Porsche driver survived the crash, took video of the scene – which he later posted to social media – and fled on foot, police said.
He was taken into the custody on Thursday morning and identified as mortgage broker Richard Pusey.
The driver of the refrigerated semi-trailer was taken to hospital after he suffered a medical episode which resulted in him passing out.
He remains there under police guard, and Victorian Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said officers were yet to interview the driver.
Asked what caused the crash, Mr Ashton said: ‘It’s too early to really say, until we speak to the driver.’
‘He is from Cranbourne and we did a warrant through the night at his premises.
‘What was found at that premises is still the subject of ongoing investigation.’
Mr Ashton said crash investigators believe the truck veered into the freeway emergency lane at a speed of about 100km/h.
It travelled a short distance in the shoulder lane until it collided with the three stopped cars.
The first victim has been identified as constable Josh Prestney, who only graduated from the academy in November (pictured)
The smashed up Porsche: Police said the luxury car’s driver, 41, had an ‘extensive’ criminal history and was known to police
‘[It] slammed into the rear of the highway patrol vehicle which has caused the collision. (It) proceeded to include the investigation from the RP desk unit and indeed the 911 Porsche,’ Mr Ashton said.
‘The highway patrol vehicle was spun from that accident across the freeway into the centre of the freeway and the Porsche has wound up underneath the front of the truck.’
Police were waiting until daylight on Thursday to piece together what happened. The truck was removed from the scene this morning.
Flowers have begun piling up outsied the Boroondara Police Station in Melbourne’s north-east
Mr Bajwa’s university student son, Gurdeep, declined to comment.
‘I’m not able to talk to anyone, not able to share any comments,’ he said. ‘I’m not able to speak’.
Connect Logistics, the company which owns the truck, did not answer calls. The investigation continues.