The family of one of the victims of a truck crash that killed four Victorian police officers have spoken of their heartache at losing a father and husband.
Senior Constable Kevin King was one of the officers killed while responding to a vehicle stop on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway last Wednesday.
The 50-year-old’s family released a statement describing him as “a caring, considerate, gentle and kind-hearted person”.
“A big softie who would do anything for absolutely anyone. He’d always be there,” his wife Sharron Mackenzie and sons William, James and Henry said in the statement released yesterday.
Senior Constable King, as well as Leading Senior Constable Lynnette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney had been standing in the emergency lane of the Eastern Freeway at Kew as they prepared to impound a Porsche 911.
Mohinder Singh, the truck driver who was allegedly behind the wheel, has appeared in court as police appeal for witnesses of the horror crash to come forward.
The 47-year-old briefly faced Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday, charged with culpable driving causing the deaths of the officers.
His lawyer Steven Pica said Singh felt “distressed and saddened at the tragic consequences of his actions” and had been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.
He did not apply for bail and will return to court in October.
The Porsche’s driver Richard Pusey, 41, was charged on Friday with nine offences including driving at a dangerous speed, reckless conduct endangering life, failing to render assistance and drug possession.
He also remains in custody and is due back in court in July.
It comes as police appealed to anyone who saw the truck in the lead-up to the crash or had dashcam footage to come forward.
The prime mover had the Queensland registration XV8 5IE and the trailer had the registration 84I QWK.
Senior Constable King had been with Victoria Police for six years after working in the rag trade for many years.
“He was searching for a long time for something that had meaning, and we’d often joke that he seemed like a cop even long before he was a cop, it was his nature,” his family said.
“He was always methodical, very well-organised, and loved comradery. He loved going to work, it was his home away from home.”