Driver ‘culpable’ over crash that killed police officer in tribute motorcade

A man has been charged after a car veered into a group motorcycle ride in Victoria commemorating police who died in the line of duty, killing an officer.

A 21-year-old man is in custody after Victorian police officer Detective Senior Sergeant Victor Kostiuk was hit by a car and killed while taking part in a group ride to commemorate police who died in the line of duty.

Victoria Police say the car was travelling along the Princes Highway near Orbost in the state's east Friday afternoon when it veered onto the opposite side of the road and struck the policeman's bike.

Det Snr Sgt Kostiuk died at the scene.

The officer was among 300 riders in the Wall to Wall Ride who set out from the Victoria Police Memorial in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, headed for Merimbula and then on to Canberra yesterday.

A Botanic Ridge man is in custody charged with one count of culpable driving, police said.

He is due to appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court tomorrow.