Key Takeaways:
- A fatal crash involving a driver who was allegedly evading police on a rural South Australian highway is being investigated as a death in custody.
- The 33-year-old driver died at the scene of the crash after his car, which had been reported stolen, reached speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour.
- Police had been tracking the car using a helicopter and had set up road spikes to try to stop the driver.
- The incident is being investigated by SA Police’s Internal Investigation Section, and there will also be a coronial investigation.
- The driver was known to police and had been wanted in relation to domestic violence and other issues.
Introduction to the Incident
A fatal crash on a rural South Australian highway is being investigated as a death in custody, according to Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott. The incident occurred on Saturday when a 33-year-old driver, who was allegedly evading police, crashed his car on the Eyre Highway. The driver, who was from Hilton in Adelaide, died at the scene of the crash. The car, a blue Ford sedan, had been reported stolen from a Port Augusta home on Friday and had been involved in a petrol drive-off at a local service station earlier that day.
The Police Pursuit
The police pursuit of the stolen car began after the driver was involved in a petrol drive-off at a service station. The driver allegedly reached speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour and was tracked by a police helicopter. Assistant Commissioner Parrott said that the police had conducted an "active risk assessment" prior to the crash, taking into account the driver’s erratic behavior and the potential risk to other road users. The police had also set up road spikes to try to stop the driver, but he managed to evade them and continue driving.
The Crash and Its Aftermath
The crash occurred when the driver got out of the car at a roadside rest stop along the Eyre Highway, about 37 kilometers east of Kimba. Police in a plain vehicle had set up spikes at the entrance and exit to the car park, and the driver got back into the car and drove off at speed, narrowly missing one of the police officers. The car crashed less than two kilometers along the highway, and the driver was found unconscious. Despite attempts to conduct CPR, the driver died at the scene. The Eyre Highway was closed between Iron Knob and Kimba after the crash, but has since reopened.
Investigation and Response
The incident is being investigated by SA Police’s Internal Investigation Section, and there will also be a coronial investigation. Assistant Commissioner Parrott said that the investigation would examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the police pursuit and the use of road spikes. He also said that the driver was known to police and had been wanted in relation to domestic violence and other issues. The assistant commissioner expressed regret at the outcome of the incident, saying that the driver had made "some choices yesterday which have resulted in him losing his life."
Police Protocol and Procedure
Assistant Commissioner Parrott defended the police protocol and procedure used during the incident, saying that the officers had conducted an "active risk assessment" and had taken steps to try to stop the driver safely. He said that the police had to balance the need to apprehend the driver with the need to maintain public safety. The assistant commissioner also said that the police would review their procedures and protocols to ensure that they are adequate and effective in similar situations in the future.
Conclusion
The fatal crash on the Eyre Highway is a tragic reminder of the risks and challenges faced by police officers in their daily work. The incident is being thoroughly investigated, and the findings will be used to inform police protocol and procedure in the future. The incident also highlights the importance of road safety and the need for drivers to obey the law and drive safely. The driver’s death is a tragic outcome, and the police will do everything they can to support the family and loved ones of the deceased.
