By Brendan Rees
Victoria Police have raided properties linked to a refrigeration chicken company after a truck driver of Cranbourne mowed down four cops in a horror crash.
At a press conference on Monday 27 April, Assistant Commissioner Libby Murphy said the Major Collision Investigation Unit had executed search warrants at residential addresses in Frankston and Croydon – with “people associated” with the trucking company, Connect Logistics.
The company logo was on the side of the truck at the time it was allegedly involved in the fatal crash on the Eastern Freeway in Kew on Wednesday evening, 22 April.
The raids come as the truck driver, 47-year-old Mohinder Singh of Cranbourne, who was behind the wheel of a semi-trailer – which was allegedly travelling at 100km/h when it veered across multiple lanes and into the path of officers on the Easter Freeway – was charged with four counts of culpable driving, an offence which carries a maximum 20-year jail term.
He faced the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Monday 27 April. He did not apply for bail and was remanded to appear at the next hearing in October.
Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Josh Prestney died when a truck crashed into them while they were dealing with a Porsche driver in the emergency lane of the freeway.
It’s believed Mr Singh didn’t sustain any injuries but had spent four nights at the Royal Melbourne Hospital under police guard after reportedly suffering a medical episode.
Last week, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said it had appeared the truck had moved from a freeway lane into the emergency lane a “short distance” before the crash, adding it was “too early” to say if the truck driver’s actions were deliberate.
Meanwhile, Ms Murphy told reporters she could not provide specifics on what had been seized during the raids, saying “I’m sorry, I don’t have that information but it’s not unusual for documents and that sort of stuff to be seized.”
Last week, police raided Mr Singh’s home but have also yet to reveal what they found.
Ms Murphy appealed to witnesses or those with dashcam footage of the Volvo prime mover, registered in Queensland with plates XV85IE and the trailer, registration 84IQWQ – to come forward.
Ms Murphy added she had attended the academy with Leading Sen Const Taylor 31 years ago and all four deaths were “heartbreaking”.
“I don’t want to take it away from the four people because each of those place members had someone who truly loved them within the organisation … they meant a lot to their families quite clearly and for us it’s been quite tragic.”
Detectives from the Homicide Squad and Major Collision Investigation Unit are investigating.
Ms Murphy did not rule out the possibility of more charges being laid on Mr Singh.
She said Victoria Police were “very grateful” for those who had stopped and helped at the scene and was overwhelmed by the community’s outpouring of tributes.
Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
