The mother of a man who allegedly fled the scene of a crash in Victoria where four police officers were killed says the family is "deeply ashamed" and has revealed they have been estranged from him for some time.
Richard Pusey, 41, was pulled over for allegedly driving his Porsche at an excessive speed last week before a semi-truck reportedly veered off the freeway and ploughed into the police cars and the Porsche. Police allege Pusey then fled the scene on foot.
Constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney, and Snr Consts Lynette Taylor and Kevin King were the victims of the horror collision.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Friday that Pusey told one of the officers as she lay dying that "you f**ked my f**king car".
According to his mother, who read a statement on behalf of the family on Australian radio station 3AW, the rest of the family have been estranged from Pusey for some time.
"We want to say that we are truly devastated by the tragic events that unfolded," said Pusey's mother, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We extend our deepest heartfelt sympathies to the families, the friends, and colleagues of the four officers that so tragically lost their lives in the execution of their police duties."
She said the family learned about the crash on Wednesday night.
"We were incredibly shocked and deeply ashamed by the events that unfolded surrounding the accident and thereafter," she told 3AW on Monday.
"All we can say is we feel the same sense of devastation as the community at this time.
"We are disgusted, as you can imagine. He doesn't reflect any other member of the family at all in his behaviour."
Earlier on Monday, Victoria Police confirmed the 47-year-old truck driver allegedly involved in the crash had been charged with four counts of culpable driving, following a joint investigation by the major collision investigation unit and the homicide squad.
Both Pusey and the truck driver have been remanded in custody.
