The husband of a Perth woman who died in a police chase is urging authorities to impose a speed cap for police vehicles going through intersections during pursuits. Sharon D'Ercole, 50, was killed on April 12, 2012, when a police car ran a red light and struck her car as she drove through a green light in Dianella. Her daughter was in the car on her 16th birthday.
A coronial inquest into the death concluded this week, with Deputy Coroner Evelyn Vickers indicating she would rule the death an accident. The inquest examined police training and implementation of the force's emergency driving policy. Ms Vickers noted improvements in police risk assessments since 2012, with fewer pursuit-related deaths.
Outside court, Ron D'Ercole advocated for stricter pursuit rules, specifically a capped speed through controlled intersections. 'I don't believe there's any discretion that should be given to a police officer in a built-up area in a busy situation where there could be a high risk to the public,' he said. He also called for a ban on bull bars on police vehicles, calling them an 'unacceptable risk to the public'.
The court heard that WA Police agreed to consider these ideas through its policy review committee, though Ms Vickers said she could not include them in her findings as they were not raised with witnesses during the inquest. The inquest was told that both the driver and passenger of the police car failed to comply with the emergency driving policy, but details were suppressed.
The driver, former Constable Gareth Hopley, was acquitted of dangerous driving occasioning death in 2013. He testified that he saw another car slowing as he entered the intersection, deeming it safe. He could not recall his speed or all conversations with his passenger. Mr D'Ercole acknowledged that not all details of the chase were known but took comfort in police training changes aimed at protecting the public.
