Woman dies after being hit by police car in Cairns
Updated . First published at
A police car in pursuit of a wanted person has struck and killed a mother while she was crossing the road in Cairns.
Security footage captured the harrowing moments before impact, as a police Toyota Land Cruiser in the left-hand slip lane suddenly makes a right turn as it switches on its lights to pass through an intersection.
Police said it took place on the corner of Sheridan and Lily streets at Trinity Beach about 7am.
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Security footage captured the harrowing moments before impact. Nine
A 71-year-old woman was struck by the police car. It's understood she was crossing the road on a green walk signal.
"The officers in the vehicle called for further assistance, they provided immediate medical treatment to the woman," Deputy Commissioner John Tims said.
She was rushed to Cairns Hospital but died a short time later.
"This is an incredible, sad loss and has changed the life of a family forever."
The police union said the three officers in the car – one sergeant and two senior constables – had spotted a wanted person moments before the crash.
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The woman was rushed to hospital with critical injuries. Nine
"Our police were, at the time, conducting an attempted intercept of an offender that was on the side of the road," Police Union president Shane Prior said.
"The whole incident has been caught on dashcam footage."
Authorities have not commented on whether any policies or procedures had been breached or whether the manoeuvre performed by police was legal.
"The investigation will be conducted and there will be recommendations and findings from that investigation and they'll be followed," Tims said.
Prior said the three officers "were very shaken up as to what has occurred, one in particular is devastated".
The Forensic Crash Unit and the Ethical Standards Command will investigate, with oversight from the Crime Corruption Commissioner and Coroner.
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