It has been revealed one of the four police officers who were killed in a horrific car crash in Melbourne was a 28-year-old constable who was just one week into the job.
Joshua Prestney has been revealed to be one of the victims killed by a speeding truck on the Eastern Freeway at Kew on Wednesday afternoon.
The young man’s grandmother Eliza Anderson told the Herald Sun he was “so proud” to serve his community.
Me Prestney had graduated from the police academy in November.
“We were so proud of you. God bless Josh. Miss you forever,” she wrote in an emotional Facebook post.
Ms Anderson had shared a photo of her and her beautiful grandson back in June when he was still in the academy.
“Proud Nan with my grandson Josh at the police academy,” she said in the caption.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up in support of the families who lost their loved one to the accident.
It was launched by a member of the Narre Warren Police Department in Victoria and Senior Constance Steven Pope says he hopes to raise a total of $2 million.
Over $74,800 has been raised in just 18 hours.
“This is a brutal reminder of the danger police face in the course of their service, every minute of every shift,” Constable Pope said.
“Whilst we mourn their loss, we grieve with their families and colleagues. Whilst money can never replace a lost loved one, the financial stresses can take their toll.”
Heartfelt comments were left beneath the GoFundMe page from those who donated.
“I’m an ex-member… it is a job like no other…Rest In Peace my brothers and sister in blue,” one person who donated a generous $100 wrote and another with the same contribution to the victim’s families said: “Everyone deserves to come home from work everyday. What a tragedy.”
Another said: “This is truly a tragedy, a very difficult and dark time for Australia. I honestly cannot find the right words to express how saddened I am by this tragedy.
“My prayers and thoughts are with the families and the police force. This is a reminder that police officers truly sacrifice their lives on a daily basis, just to keep the community safe.
“Victoria police, thank you for all your hard work, thank you for allowing me to feel safe on a daily basis.”
A truck was driving at 100km/h when it hit and brutally killed four police officers dealing with the driver of a Porsche who had just tested positive to a drug test on the roadside.
The refrigeration truck ploughed into all three parked cars just after the police arrived.
The collision killed two senior constables and two officers as they stood in the emergency lane.
The driver of the black Porsche 911 fled on foot and remains on the run.
The driver has been identified as mortgage broker Richard Pusey and was taken into custody on Thursday morning outside of a chemist, 7News reports.
Flags will fly at half-mast across Victoria on Thursday in honour of the officers.
“It is an unprecedented event for us to lose so many officers in one event. Officers just doing their work, just doing their job,” Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said on Thursday.
The truck driver had a medical episode after the crash occurred, blacked out and is currently in hospital under police guard.
“He is from Cranbourne and we did a warrant through the night at his premises,” Commissioner Ashtonsaid.
“What was found at that premises is still the subject of ongoing investigation.”
Shattered police colleagues and emergency workers across Australia have since paid tribute to the fallen officers in what is the greatest loss of police life in a single incident in Victoria's history.
The three other constables killed have been identified as Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris and Senior Constable Kevin King.
This article originally appeared on Over60.