A South Australian police officer who was struck by a vehicle driven by an armed fugitive during a high-speed pursuit has revealed he believed he was about to die, only ten days after marrying his wife.
Senior Constable Liam Bennett faced his attacker in court
Senior Constable Liam Bennett confronted the man who nearly killed him during a court hearing, telling the judge that a single minute on Christmas Eve 2024 had “shattered” his life. The officer, who had just returned from his honeymoon, recounted the terrifying moments in a victim impact statement.
The driver, Daniel Crutchfield, a career criminal with a lengthy record, has pleaded guilty to multiple driving offences and the serious charge of endangering the life of a police officer. This charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 18 years in prison.
The chase and the impact
Bennett was attempting to stop Crutchfield at the conclusion of an extended pursuit through Tailem Bend when the fugitive locked eyes with him. “I knew that look — the fixed, unyielding stare,” Bennett told the court. “The next moments would decide whether I’d go home to my wife, or if she would become a widow ten days into our marriage.”
Then came the moment he thought would be his last. “I saw the car turn towards me… it struck my waist and I closed my eyes. When I opened them I was rolling, and the vehicle flashed past my face… both wheels ran over my legs.”
Bennett was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. He told the court he replays the impact “over and over”.
Ongoing trauma and career impact
“The hopelessness and the terror… I still fear how close I came to being killed,” he said. The incident has left him unable to work on the front line, and he fears it has derailed his dream of a future leadership role within the South Australia Police (SAPOL).
“The incident changed the course of my career,” Bennett said. “The scars on my body are permanent — a constant reminder of the violence.”
Crutchfield has been in custody since his arrest and is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
