Grieving family 'appalled' after police pull over funeral procession for RBT

Queensland Police have apologised to a grieving family who had the funeral for their mother interrupted by officers pulling the hearse driver over for a roadside breath test.

The procession for 82-year-old Vera Hohn was reportedly on its way to the cemetery in the Queensland town of Dalby on Tuesday morning when the incident occurred.

Her son Jeffrey Hohn and daughter-in-law Eve Hohn told 7News they were “gobsmacked”.

"My mum's had no police reaction in 82 years of her life, and the day of her funeral she had problems with the police," Mr Hohn said.

Jeffrey Horn was horrified when police interrupted his mother funeral procession. Source: 7News
Jeffrey Horn was horrified when police interrupted his mother funeral procession. Source: 7News

A church minister who witnessed the incident described it as “very disturbing”.

“I saw a hearse with somebody’s loved one pulled over by a random RBT on the way to the cemetery with the family following,” he said.

“Perhaps the two officers may want to have a good look at them selves. Bloody disgusting.”

The funeral home responsible for Mrs Hohn’s memorial service also spoke out against police.

“Whilst we strongly support the endeavours of Queensland Police... stopping an active funeral cortege is inappropriate and can cause unnecessary additional stress on the family of the deceased, our staff and additional time on the funeral service process,” the company said.

closeup shot of a colorful casket in a hearse or chapel before funeral or burial at cemetery
Police have said it was a mistake. Source: Getty, file photo

Queensland Police issued an apology to the family, adding that the officers responsible had made a mistake and once they realised it was a hearse they were pulling over, they waved the driver back into traffic.

“We acknowledge that this caused undue stress and respect the protocols of a funeral procession," police said in a statement.

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