Parents of constable Josh Prestney, 28, say they ‘cannot fathom the circumstances’ that led to their son’s death

This article is more than 4 months old

This article is more than 4 months old

The family of a police officer killed alongside three colleagues when they were struck by a truck on a Melbourne freeway on Wednesday say they have lost their “bright light”.

Constable Josh Prestney, 28, was the youngest of the four officers killed in the incident, which is the single largest loss of police lives in Victoria since 1878, when three officers were killed in a shootout with the Kelly gang.

He died alongside senior constable Lynette Taylor, constable Glen Humphris and senior constable Kevin King.

The group were conducting a traffic stop on a Porsche that had allegedly been speeding at 140km/h. The driver of the Porsche has been charged with dangerous driving and failing to render assistance after a crash, among other things, and has not applied for bail.

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Humphris’ partner, Todd Robinson, addressed the media on Friday, saying he wanted to “let everybody know he wore a uniform, but he was a person under that uniform. He came home to someone.”

Prestney’s parents, Andrew and Belinda, and brother, Alex, said Prestney was their “bright light,” a “creative, insightful, loving and genuine soul” who loved music and was a passionate AFL supporter.

He followed his brother in joining the police and had only been in the job five months. He had begun work at his current posting, alongside King at Nunawading Highway Patrol, the day before being killed.

“Josh found his calling with Victoria Police after seeing how much his younger brother Alex loved the job,” Prestney’s family said, in a statement released via Victoria police.

“The proudest moment of our lives was when Alex presented Josh with his badge at the graduation ceremony in December last year.

“We cannot fathom the circumstances that have led us to this point. Josh and Alex were only 18 months apart in age and grew up doing everything together. Alex has lost his best friend, big brother and offsider.

“Josh’s partner Stacey has lost her angel; they were perfect for one another and had made plans for their future together. Our heart bleeds for her.”

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Prestney’s first love was music, and he completed a bachelor of creative industries management when he left school, before working at two well-known Melbourne bike stores – Fitzroy Cycles and Canyon Bikes.

“Josh was an amazing guitarist who loved hard rock and metal,” they said. Music was at the heart of everything he did; it made him who he was in so many ways.”

“Josh was a passionate Collingwood supporter … He cried all the way home after the 2002 Grand Final loss, as a 10 year old.”

His parents said they were “broken”.

“The thought of never hearing his guitar playing throughout the house, never sharing our sporting adventures together again, never going to the football with him again, never laughing over silly family jokes with him again breaks our hearts and fills us with a pain that has taken our breath away,” they said.

“Our hearts go out to the families of the other officers tragically taken from them.”