THE probe into the actions of police before a fiery fatal crash near Tamworth will take some time, as a post-mortem gets underway.
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New England detectives are leading the critical incident investigation into Thursday’s fatal crash on the New England Highway, north of Bendemeer, which claimed the life of a man in his 20s from interstate.
On Monday, Armidale detectives spent a fourth-straight day gathering evidence and taking statements as part of their official investigation into the head-on crash, near the Green Valley Rd intersection.
The critical incident was declared because the death occurred during a police operation. An officer initiated a pursuit with the stolen ute that lasted a matter of seconds. The ute was being chased after it failed to pay for fuel at the service station on the highway, just out of Armidale on Thursday morning.
“The post-mortem is likely to occur in Newcastle early this week,” Detective Inspector Ann Joy confirmed to Fairfax Media on Monday.
“There are still a number of inquiries that investigators are involved with in terms of gathering statements and examinations of the scene.
“The formal identification is also likely to occur following the post-mortem.”
Police are yet to release the details of the man behind the stolen ute from interstate but Fairfax Media have spoken to the family who are coming to terms with the shock loss of their son and brother, who lives interstate.
The driver of the ute was killed instantly when it smashed into the north-bound StarTrack truck, which erupted in flames, about 50km from Tamworth.
It’s understood the force of the crash sent the stolen ute careering out of control, hitting the police car that was attempting to pull it over.
Fairfax Media has been told the policeman, who is attached to the dog squad based in Tamworth, then pulled the 68-year-old truck driver to safety and tried to save the ute driver, but he was killed instantly.
Detective Inspector Joy said detectives had interviewed those involved as well as several witnesses, but there could be more locals who had information.
“Anyone that can provide information on the movements of that vehicle, the blue utility from Armidale via the New England Highway through to where the incident occurred near Bendemeer, we would ask them to please contact detectives at Armidale Police Station on 6771 0699,” she said.