Family to sue police over patrol car crash that left grandmother in coma
A distraught Sydney family is planning to sue police after a highway patrol car crash left a grandmother in a coma.
Gai Vieira has been left in a coma and fighting for life at St George Hospital following a crash involving a police car at an intersection in Cronulla in Sydney’s south on September 5.
Her family is furious that the officer involved still hasn’t been questioned. The officer hadn’t been questioned as of Friday, police said.
Mrs Vieira’s husband, Bert, is now considering legal action against police labelling it a “joke” that no one has been interviewed.
His three-year-old grandson was also left traumatised by the crash as he was in the back seat.
“What is my wife worth? And my grandson, I’ve learned from them, (the) only way to teach someone a lesson is to make them hurt,” he said.
“Do you know of anyone else that has left ten days before an interview in a major accident?”
Mr Vieira’s also angry at police defending pursuits, which he wants restricted.
“It’s an insult to my family (and) to every one that’s been hurt by a police car chase,” Mr Vieira said.
He’s been offered access to video of the crash but said he can’t bring himself to watch it.
Mr Vieira said through tears every day without his wife is a struggle.
“Some days are harder than others,” Mr Vieira said.
“I still wake up in the morning and think I’m going to cuddle her. She’s not there,”
Emergency Services Minister Troy Grant said the family “absolutely” deserve answers and said they will get them.
However, the Vieira family did get some good news on Tuesday.
Sutherland Council and NSW Roads and Maritime Services will look at putting traffic lights at the crash intersection.
