Kevin Neil

DETAILS OF DEATH

On Wednesday 22 April 2020, Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor and Constable Glen Humphris of Road Policing Command (RPC) were performing duties on the Eastern Freeway in Kew when they intercepted a Porsche vehicle for speeding. The two vehicles were pulled into the Westbound emergency lanes and after a conversation with the driver it was decided to impound the Porsche. Nunawading Highway Patrol (NHP) members, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Joshua Prestney responded to a call for back up and upon arrival at the scene, parked their vehicle behind the RPC vehicle. At approximately 5:40pm, a truck travelling westbound has drifted across a number of lanes into the emergency lane striking the NWP vehicle. The impact caused the vehicle to rotate across all lanes of the freeway coming to rest against the wire safety barrier. The truck has then collided with the RPC vehicle and the police officers. Leading Senior Constable Taylor and Constable Humphris who were standing on the south side of the Porsche behind the rear passenger side door were pinned against the Porsche. Senior Constable King who was standing at the rear of the RPC vehicle and Constable Prestney who was standing near the front were thrown onto the freeway. Numerous witnesses went to the assistance of the police officers, but tragically all four officers died as a result of the injuries they sustained.