Two search warrants executed at addresses in Frankston and Croydon
Victoria Police has laid charges against the truck and Porsche drivers involved in the Melbourne crash that killed four officers, and is now investigating the trucking company connected to the former.
The Cranbourne-based truck driver allegedly responsible for the fatal collision, 47-year-old Mohinder Singh Bajwa, is charged with four counts of culpable driving.
Richard Pusey, the 41-year-old driver of the Porsche that was intercepted by police before the incident, is charged with driving speed dangerous, reckless conduct endangering life, fail to remain after a drug test, fail to render assistance, fail to exchange detail, possessing drug of dependence, destruction of evidence and three counts of commit indictable offence while on bail.
In a press conference this morning, assistant commissioner Libby Murphy says the Major Collision Investigation Unit and Heavy Vehicle Unit executed two search warrants at addresses in Frankston and Croydon associated with the trucking firm involved in the incident.
While the truck involved carries Connect Logistics livery, Murphy did not reveal the specifics of the warrant, only stating that the locations are residential addresses connected to “people associated with the company”.
Murphy confirms the prime mover was a Queensland-registered Volvo with registration XV85IE, and trailer registration 84IQWQ.
How industry responded to the incident in Melbourne, here
She calls upon witnesses that may have any information on, or dash cam footage of, the heavy vehicle in the lead-up to the collision to come forward.
Further charges are “premature” at this stage but still possible, with Murphy explaining to the public the role of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and chain of responsibility (COR) “that ensure that people have responsibilities and companies ensure drivers keep to hours, vehicles are roadworthy and that there’s a consistent approach to their responsibility [towards] road users and transport”.
“Any time there’s a heavy vehicle involved in a serious injury or a fatal outcome we will work with the heavy vehicle unit that the chain of responsibility exists and has been followed in terms of the law,” she says.
ATN has still been unable to contact Connect Logistics for comment.