Alleged hit and run/fatalities
Media Conference - Winchester Police Centre
ACT Chief Police Officer Audrey Fagan
1 August 2005
Audrey Fagan: It's been a horrific weekend: two road fatalities here in Canberra and a serious hit and run collision. I want to give a message out to the Canberra community to drive safely and to extend our sympathies to the two children killed in the car accident on the Monaro Highway. Similarly, we have a 21-year-old woman, Canberra University student in a very critical condition in Canberra Hospital. I'm able to advise that we have, in relation to that matter - the hit and run - two people in custody, currently being interviewed. A further third person, we believe, who was in the motor vehicle, is sought and I'm urging that particular person to come forward and speak with us. If I can just give a message to the community to ensure that they take breaks when they're driving, follow the appropriate rules of the road, particularly during Operation Snow Safe and follow those road rules as appropriately as possible. Fatigue and speed we all know are killers and are hurting our community.
Journalist: Do you have the driver of the actual stolen vehicle, the one that's in custody?
Audrey Fagan: We have two people in custody who we're currently interviewing; I don't want to go into the detail of that right now. I know that we're of a strong belief from witness statements that there were three people in the vehicle and I urge that third person to come forward.
Journalist: Do you have an idea of the identity of the third person?
Audrey Fagan: We are actively pursuing that person now.
Journalist: So you do know who it is?
Audrey Fagan: We believe we know who it is.
Journalist: In terms of the police operation into the allegations that police were actually pursuing the vehicle, there was a call to release security camera vision. Is that something you would undertake to do?
Audrey Fagan: There's a number of avenues that we are looking at from a police investigation perspective. In any critical incident, and this hit and run is a critical incident, we automatically involve our professional standards area and those people are now looking at the investigation. For me to go into detail, that would be inappropriate and speculative at this stage.
Journalist: [Inaudible]
Audrey Fagan: As I've just explained, it would be speculative for me to do that. My priority is to the community, the investigation and urging that third person to come forward. We would like to speak to this person as a matter of urgency.
Journalist: So that security camera vision will be looked at by Professional Standards and won't be leaked to the public.
Audrey Fagan: All witness statements and information that is available becomes evidence for the appropriate court proceedings and that's where it will stay.
Journalist: Are you able to, just on the court issue, tell us if there is a particular policy about pursuits?
Audrey Fagan: We've got policies in relation to all driving by police. They have training in the appropriate use of their powers, in their driver training, those governance and policy frameworks, and they're in place and well understood by people in ACT Policing.
Reporter: [Inaudible]
Audrey Fagan: Well, I've just explained that there is a policy in place within the governance framework within the AFP.
Reporter: Can you outline what the framework is for pursuits?
Audrey Fagan: I can. There's a very detailed pursuit policy in place, but to go into detail about that would be operational methodology; clear guidelines are in place and I could confirm those but I wouldn't want to explain in detail all the policy around that.
Journalist: From the information that you have, are you confident that police did the right thing?
Audrey Fagan: Look, the briefings that I've had show - and I'd like to commend the police who have attended the scenes of both these tragic incidents, similarly Emergency Services and volunteers who helped on the Monaro Highway - that the training these officers received gives me confidence. Having said that, it is appropriate and right that we refer these matters to our Professional Standards area as well - and that's precisely what we've done.
Journalist: Over the weekend we heard that there was no car chase; that police had done everything right. Why are we now at this stage of the investigation when on the weekend everyone was saying that everything was done by the book?
Audrey Fagan: I think I've made it clear from the outset that any critical incident - let's remember here that a 21-year-old woman is fighting for her life in Canberra Hospital - any critical incident where police are involved is referred to our Professional Standards area. This is right and it's appropriate. To just speculate or make judgement around that is incorrect. From the briefing I've received, the confidence I have in the men and women doing the work is there, but we know we have appropriate processes in place to look at these. Similarly the community expects us to investigate and bring the people responsible to justice.
Journalist: Do you have any idea of the time frame or the processes?
Audrey Fagan: I don't have the detail of that and that wouldn't be appropriate either. That area will receive the information and process that in a timely way and it's not something I oversight so I wouldn't have that information.
Journalist: There was some suggestion that the car might have even been chased because it was somehow linked to the bashing death of the guy in the Pavilion Hotel. Is there any truth to that or is that just a speculative theory?
Audrey Fagan: I don't have any information in relation to that.
Journalist: Do you have any idea of the suburbs of the people who have been affected by this latest fatality, both the injured and the two girls who were killed?
Audrey Fagan: All I have before me is a tragic circumstance after the family trip to the ski fields.
Journalist: And the family of four: are they local, are they from Canberra or are they also from interstate?
Audrey Fagan: They're also from interstate, that's all I'm prepared to say in relation to that.
Journalist: [Inaudible]
Audrey Fagan: I have details but must respect their privacy. Just again, I want to urge Canberra drivers and indeed all motorists to drive safely. Traffic in the area is busy so drive carefully. Our patrols are working with NSW Police with Operation Snow Safe; it is imperative, particularly Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, to take care on the Monaro Highway.
Journalist: [Inaudible]
Audrey Fagan: That's part of an active investigation; again, we would not talk about the detail.
Journalist: So there are no theories on that someone fell asleep at the wheel perhaps or they weren't obeying the speed limit?
Audrey Fagan: There's been a serious collision, one of two on the weekend and they are both actively being investigated. I'll leave you with that point.
Journalist: Is it likely that the names of the two girls who died are going to be issued at this stage?
Audrey Fagan: That's not something that I've had any discussions about at this point so I can't tell you.
Journalist: Is it being referred on to the Coroner at this stage?
Audrey Fagan: All road deaths in the Australian Capital Territory are referred to the coroner; I know the Coroner's office was involved right from the outset.
Journalist: Would you consider nominating people for bravery awards who helped at the Monaro Highway crash scene?
Audrey Fagan: We are ever grateful and thank those volunteers, State Emergency Services and the mass of people who were there helping. We are always open and can recognise those services of the community and thank them.
Journalist: [Inaudible]
Audrey Fagan: I can confirm that there were members of the public helping at the scene.
Journalist: [Inaudible]
Audrey Fagan: Again, these are matters that are part of an investigation and in deference to the family at this time, it's very important specifically as we gather the facts, I don't want to go into speculation. I don't believe that's appropriate particularly as we still have to present facts to the Coroner.
Journalist: If this 21-year-old girl does die, we'll be up to 16 deaths for the year. That's half as many again as last year and were still only midway through the year. Why do you think that is?
Audrey Fagan: Again I just urge drivers to take time and really be careful on the roads. One death is one too many in my mind. It is a matter we've discussed at length today as far as our job in traffic operations and I ask that the community work with us and drive safely on our roads.
Journalist: Is there anything else that police are going to do to try and stop that number from rising?
Audrey Fagan: Each and every day we look at what we can do and how we can do it better. So for me, as I said one death is one too many and our focus is always on community safety. Thank you.
Ends//