Rookie policeman, 29, tragically dies in hospital after a female driver drifted across a highway and slammed head-on into his car
- Rookie policeman Tim Proctor, 29, has died after a horror car crash in Sydney
- Constable Proctor collided with a woman, 65, driving the opposite direction
- The female driver had drifted into oncoming traffic and crashed with Mr Proctor
- He was placed in an induced coma after the crash and is in a critical condition
- The 29-year-old was a former firefighter who became an officer in April last year
Policeman Timothy Proctor has died after being hit in a head on collision when another driver drifted across a highway on Thursday afternoon.
The 29-year-old, who had only been a member of the NSW Police Force for nine months, spent days fighting for life in hospital before he died on Sunday morning.
Commissioner Mick Fuller said Mr Proctor had a ‘tremendous passion and commitment’ for his job and his community, and gave his condolences to Mr Proctor’s family and colleagues.
Rookie policeman Tim Proctor (pictured), 29, has died after a horrific car accident in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire left him in an induced coma
Officers formed an honour guard at Liverpool Police Station for the man
The crash occurred when a 65-year-old woman veered on to the wrong side of the road on Thursday afternoon, colliding with the constable at a combined speed of 200km an hour
‘My thoughts are with Timothy’s wife Dianne, his family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time,’ he said.
‘Timothy was certainly well on the way to a wonderful policing career and was well respected by his colleagues and all who knew him.
‘He joined the Police Force after being a volunteer fire-fighter and had a tremendous passion and commitment for all emergency services and the community.’
Officers formed a guard of honour for the officer outside Liverpool Police Station, with Constable Proctor’s colleagues seen giving their condolences to the man’s wife.
A photograph of him was put on display, and grieving officers placed flowers next to it to pay their respects.
Flowers were placed next to a photograph of Constable Proctor as his colleagues came to say goodbye
The rookie policeman had a ‘bright future’, Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said
Constable Proctor’s wife Dianne was present (pictured) and was seen with an older woman as she spoke with her late husband’s colleagues
The grieving woman was comforted by the policeman’s work friends as she took her seat at the honour guard
The 29-year-old’s car collided with a black Honda Civic travelling the opposite way on Heathcote Road at Lucas Heights, in Sydney’s south on Thursday.
The vehicle crossed a lane of traffic before veering onto the wrong side and colliding into Constable Proctor at a combined speed of 200 km/h about 2pm.
The probationary constable was rushed to Liverpool Hospital and placed in an induced coma after he was pulled from the wreckage of his Honda Jazz.
He was driving back to work after a training exercise when the incident occurred.
The 29-year-old was a former firefighter who became a police officer in April last year.
The 65-year-old woman was also taken to Liverpool Hospital in a critical but stable condition.
The 29-year-old was a former firefighter (right with wife Dianne) who became a police officer in April last year
Both on and off duty officers were present to farewell Constable Proctor, as well as a K9 officer
Following the initial point of impact, a Mitsubishi Triton driven by a 19-year-old woman crashed into the woman’s Civic.
The teenager, her 18-year-old male passenger and the 63-year-old driver of a Yaris managed to escape serious injury.
A witness who was travelling behind the Honda said the accident occurred in a split second.
‘The car literally came off the ground and kicked up and I dodged it,’ Kamran Rowshanzadeh told 9News.
‘Just thinking about it really shakes you.’
‘Obviously, police turning up to a police officer injured is extremely upsetting for first responders and it was a devastating accident,’ acting inspector Melissa Thompson told reporters.
The collision forced the closure of Heathcote Rd for up to six hours on Thursday afternoon with major crash investigators examining the distressing scene.
The scene of the collision for first responders was said to be ‘devastating’ and locals are now calling for a barrier to be put between the lanes on the busy road