Daughter pleads for 'truth' after police car 'crashes into mum at 140km/h'
The daughter of a woman left in a coma after her car collided with a police vehicle in Sydney’s south has made an emotional plea for the “truth”, claiming she has been left in the dark by authorities.
Gai Vieira’s Mercedes was involved in a crash with a patrol car at an intersection on Kingsway in Cronulla on September 5, with the family claiming witnesses have told them the police vehicle was travelling at high speed and wasn’t using its siren or lights.
Ms Vieira, the wife of high-profile horse racing identity Bert Vieira, was taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition while her two-year-old grandson, who was also in the car, escaped serious injury.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy confirmed the patrol car was pursuing a motorist allegedly using their mobile phone when it collided with the 68-year-old’s car.
While police say they have received “different versions of the crash” from witnesses, Ms Vieira’s family appear adamant the police car was travelling without lights or sirens at about 140km/h.
Ms Vieira’s daughter, Cassie Vieira-Choy, called for more transparency from police amid an investigation into the collision.
“As we all sit by her side, praying for mum we are still at a loss as to how this occurred,” she wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
“All witnesses have the same story, stating NO sirens / NO lights.”
Her son, Trent Vieira, also took to Facebook the day of the crash, claiming witnesses had told him the patrol car had been travelling approximately 140km/h.
“Please help us to get the answers and ensure this horrific event NEVER happens to another family,” Ms Vieira-Choy wrote.
“We all just want the truth!!”
Police quiet on crash amid critical investigation
NSW Police told Yahoo7 News they were unable to comment on the crash, or the speed and actions of the patrol car, amid their critical incident investigation.
“As the critical incident investigation is continuing we are unable to provide further comment at this time,” a spokesperson said on Monday.
The senior constable behind the wheel suffered facial injuries from the crash but has since been released from hospital. He is expected to be interviewed “as soon as possible”, Mr Corboy said on Thursday.
“We still need to investigate the main players in this and we need to make sure the evidence is preserved.”
Footage from dashcams has been handed to the police from numerous witnesses.
“We’re looking at where the Mercedes was in the crash (and) the speed of the police vehicle,” Mr Corboy said.
The crash investigation unit’s work will be independently reviewed.
Part of the review team’s brief will be to check if the officers involved were following police safe driving procedures which stipulate the use of lights and speed in pursuits.
“The reason we do critical investigations into these incidents is to look at the police application of this policy and how that applied to this particular incident,” Mr Corboy said.
With AAP
