Police criticised over fatal pursuit
Posted
The state coroner has released the first report into the deaths of seven people during a number of police pursuits between 2005 and 2006.
The death of Maryborough woman Samantha Annne Maslen at Goondiwindi, in southern Queensland, is the first to be investigated by Michael Barnes.
Ms Maslen, 26, died when the stolen car she was in swerved at 130 kilometres an hour to avoid a stinger tyre deflation device, sending it somersaulting through the air.
The male driver and a male passenger survived the crash.
Mr Barnes says the police involved in the pursuit overplayed their law enforcement objectives because the car was old and of little value.
He also says police did not have enough regard for the known safety risks, although the police policies at the time did not provide enough guidance for the use of the stinger device.
