6th August 1992 I entered this day with anticipation knowing that for some time the age barrier that had prevented me from becoming a sworn member of the Police Service had been deleted from the entry criteria. With this barrier gone and my high fitness level maintained I could see a way, as discussed with workmates on occasions, of becoming a sworn member, if my life worked out the way I was planning. This would allow me in time to become a greater part of police driver training.
This was day 4 (urgent duty training day) of the SPO 5 day course. The sequence of events for that day was to oversee the students doing safety checks and fuelling the fleet of vehicles. After an early morning tea would be a run down to show them how the driver training techniques work at higher speed. Then we would demonstrate some common mistakes to show how violently a car will react at higher speeds if the techniques are not used correctly.
I didn't believe in leaving anything to chance especially with students as passengers and me in the driver's seat driving quickly. As the students went for morning tea, I carried out my normal routine and proceeded to the circuit in a vehicle to warm it up and dial myself in. This release of adrenaline would cause my right hand to shake although this did not affect my control, after this I would return the vehicle to the compound, have a quick cuppa then go out with the students for their run down.
This run down would seem extremely quick to the students; however, the speed at which I was then driving seemed slow compared to what I had only moments before practiced. By the end of the run down, the students should have seen and had a greater knowledge as to how the techniques work at higher speed. I continued training them through to our lunch break at midday.
I used my lunch break that day to ring police recruiting, then made a further phone call to Goulburn TAFE. An appointment was made for 3.30pm that day to discuss adult matriculation, the educational criteria that may have enabled me entry to the Police Academy, to become a sworn officer rather than a civilian member of the NSW Police.
After lunch I was requested by a Senior Constable to take his two students as well as my own out for their last street assessment as he had more pressing work which required him to stay at PDT.
By about 3.00pm three of the students had completed their drives; the fourth commenced his drive after a short break at Pejar Dam. On entering Crookwell Road from the rest area I noticed a vehicle approaching on our right, far enough away to be of no concern, however I believe this vehicle would have been with us, had it not turned off or stopped, as the next sequence of events occurred.
As the student (a licensed driver) rounded a right hand bend the vehicle ran wide. This prompted me to advise him and all others in the vehicle to be more defensive when approaching a corner on this type of road. "Should you run too wide and drop a wheel into that rut it will be like a big hand just pulling the tail of the vehicle around".
I started to talk him through as I felt he had been distracted and not assessed the next bend to the right as we were still travelling at the designated maximum speed of 100 kph.
"Brake in a straight line prior to the bend if you need to. Ease the brake as you steer into the corner". My right hand moved for the steering wheel to guide him as I spoke, as we were wider than the enormous rut, I could see, advised.
My right hand reached the steering wheel as the rear left wheel was dragged into the rut where the bitumen joined the dirt, my hand brushed out of the way by the driver as he fought to correct our course.
In this fraction of a second the tail of our Rodeo had been dragged to the left causing us to be aimed at the right side of the road. He had compensated with left steering as the tail pulled out of the rut however we were now crossing the center of the road. The tail then lurched across the road to the right.
As I tried to get some words of advise out, my eyes travelled to his right foot, to see it hovering, he wasn't able to respond effectively and at the speed we were travelling everything was happening too fast for him. My right hand reached for the steering wheel to try and gain some control, my arm again brushed away as his left hand jerked upwards on the left side of the steering wheel. With this piece of steering to the right and having little traction on the rear wheels the tail of the vehicle was thrown back to the left.
I looked through the windscreen to see where we were heading. I saw a clear edge momentarily but with this last induced spin a tree caught my attention. With this obstacle being directly in our path on the loose gravel directly we slid forward but sideways into the tree.
The vehicle collided with the tree off the road to the right, impacting at the front windscreen pillar on the passenger's side. The corner of the dashboard being forced down onto my seat between my legs, my seat in a forward position to allow legroom for the student seated behind me.
My seat belt locking and holding as I was thrown forward to the left with my head contacting the windscreen pillar as it intruded into my space. The nose of the vehicle contacted a small embankment at the same time. The vehicle still had enough momentum to continue its forward movement, which it did, by extracting itself from the tree (probably saving my life) and rolling before coming to rest on it's distorted roof.
The speed limit on Crookwell road at the time of the accident was lOOkph. The road should be safe at this speed which dictates due care be taken by all drivers and the road properly maintained by the relevant authority. However when confronted by non-repaired road edging, no warning signs advising of the damage caused over a long period of time by heavy vehicles and no advisory speed signs, this inexperienced driver under the stresses of undergoing driver training, still did not have the skills required under these conditions.
Our speed, as we entered the bend, just prior to the accident was lOOkph. Deceleration caused by our sideways motion would have lowered our impact speed to still above the Police Report's estimated speed of 85kph. Why should anyone alter the facts when we were doing nothing wrong? As we all know the lower the impact speed the less chance of injury.
On opening my eyes I found myself upside down with blood dripping on my paperwork now resting on the roof of our vehicle. My left knee was being pushed hard against the door and my left foot pushed inwards across the vehicle. I had to somehow move it to ease the discomfort in my left hip and knee, but more importantly I felt I had to "Get out".
As I clicked my seat belt undone my head came to rest on the roof placing all my body weight painfully on my neck, my legs above me still jammed, one between the door and the dashboard and the other between the dashboard and the console. I tried to use my arms to lift my body weight off my neck, which was now being forced sideways, but had no strength to do this.
Feeling as though I was about to pass out I struggled to free my legs from behind the dash, whilst at the same time still trying to take the weight off my neck. Panic was gripping me. To my relief one of my legs released allowing it to fall. With this movement my lower back and hips felt as though they were being forced in directions they were never intended to go.
My leg releasing pulled my body sideways which in turn released the pressure from my neck enabling me to start moving myself sideways. My other leg then dislodged from behind the dash and fell down. I crawled out of the vehicle through a broken window.
Once out of the vehicle I forced myself to stand up, feeling dizzy and disorientated, I turned and found the car to lean on for support. As I stood looking down at the dirty undercarriage, I had to try to focus, as the events that had just happened, didn't seem real.
Another head appeared on the other side moving towards the back, which prompted me to do the same. I moved along to the rear using the vehicle to balance myself, as my legs felt barely capable of supporting my weight.
On the ground at the back of the vehicle lay a large branch that had been dislodged by the impact. Sitting on the branch was the driver and two other students revealing all alive and accounted for.
One of the students beckoned me to sit on the branch. I tried to respond but couldn't speak, my head was spinning, my legs weak and painful. I couldn't allow myself to succumb to the pain. To sit meant I would have to, at some stage stand again. I had already been made painfully aware that to remain standing required less effort. I needed to regain control. I turned away breaking eye contact, hoping the students could not see how I was feeling.
I then noticed a motorist had stopped. As I walked towards this person, my leather jacket felt so tight, I tried to undo it. The zip had broken and pulled apart in the center of the chest. I continued fiddling to release the zip, which now felt urgent.
This person informed me they had been in the vehicle following and he had already sent his wife to call for the Ambulance and Police. He said "it was spectacular, I thought you were dead". "No I think we're all OK I was the front seat passenger." His look of disbelief said more than any words. One of the students had come over and offered to assist me. I felt there was a greater need for us to contact PDT and advised her of this.
We went back to the window I had alighted through; somehow I found the radio hand piece and attempted to contact PDT. With this unsuccessful attempt, I stood, supported myself against the vehicle and searched my mind for the PDT phone number. As the number came to me I wrote it on a piece of paper from my pocket (which also contained the contact name and time for my appointment at Goulburn TAFE that day) and gave it to her. She left with the paper to accomplish her task.
I then went to the other side of the vehicle to turn the lights off which had been left or knocked on during the accident. When I crouched down to do this, to my amazement I couldn't find the steering wheel, dashboard or light stem. Someone beckoned me away from the vehicle. I acknowledged and followed this person's advice, as the dizzy disorientated feeling seemed to be worsening with every movement.
Again I stood only to find I had to support myself against the vehicle. It was about then that I noticed a highway patrol car had arrived. I went to see the driver, who was now moving quickly towards me. I requested the driver contact the Traffic Sergeant, as Police Instructions require him to be present at the scene of a police accident. Then realising the Highway Car had a Police Radio, I asked if he could contact PDT.
Shortly after an ambulance arrived I saw the Highway Officer turn the lights off in our Rodeo, through the window I had used for my escape which only added to my confusion. I recall seeing a neck brace being placed on our driver by the ambulance officers.
To leave the accident scene, I went over to the highway car for transportation. On opening the passenger's side door and easing myself in, I was informed by the driver that I had better go in the ambulance in case I blacked out. I paused for a moment before proceeding over to the ambulance where I sat on the end of the stretcher looking out the rear door windows as another and I, were conveyed to Goulburn Base Hospital.
The five who had been in the accident were all transported to the Goulburn Base Hospital Accident and Emergency Department. The driver SPO Jason was seen to first whilst we, the other four, myself, SPOs Barry, Lynn and David were left in the waiting room talking over what had happened.
My wife had been notified as to my involvement in an accident and rang the hospital. My first reaction being "Oh no" for I didn't want her worrying. She had received, what would have to be one of the most distressing phone calls from the police that any wife could receive. During the short conversation I did all I could to assure her that I was OK and still in one piece.
Whilst in the Accident and Emergency Department, a skull x-ray was ordered and carried out. I was kept for observations. Later that night I commented something was irritating one of my eyes, I was moved by wheel chair to another section where the glass was removed.
Two of my work colleagues came to see me that afternoon. We were ushered into a small examination cubicle to talk. They asked what had been done. I replied "they've done a head x-ray and found nothing there". They thought this was funny. Had I not been feeling so bad I probably could have enjoyed the joke and would have acknowledged a head x-ray wasn't needed to find that out.
One advised me that he had made arrangements to pick us up later that night, which I thought to be strange. I was at this time finding it very awkward to stand. I propped myself against a cabinet that was in the room, helping to take the weight and pressure off my hips and legs.
The way I was feeling I didn't really care what arrangements he was making, on reflection I know had the head teacher been present on that day his Instructor's health would have come first. No arrangements would have been made until the hospital had cleared us to leave.
Later that night Glenn came back to the hospital to see if I was ok. During this visit we had a brief conversation relating to my plans in the job. I was a little concerned, as I didn't feel at all well.
Shortly after he left my whole body started uncontrollable shuddering. Muscles and skin all seemed to be pulled so tight and sensitive. My torso and legs ached. I lay flat on my back, which was the most comfortable position I could find, although this felt as though I was lying in a pool of sweat. I was shivering and burning up at the same time.
The nurse in attendance had been observing and bought in a damp cloth to cool me off explaining I was in shock. As the worst of these feelings subsided I felt worn out and dozed off. I was later wakened and told the people were here to pick me up.
At the time of my release from Goulburn Base Hospital I recall hearing the hospital personnel request that I be kept under medical supervision. An assurance was given that we, the driver and myself would be for the rest of the night.
The hospital personnel still had concerns regarding my condition. The reason I believe is contained in the hospital reports from that date. My pulse had remained high since the time of the accident. The lowest reading recorded being 80bpm.
At 7.00 pm for some unexplained reason my pulse then rose to 110 remaining close to this rate. At 10.00 pm observation records state "stable for discharge" my pulse was still noted at over 100 which had been taken during my sleep. A fit 39 year old male whilst sleeping should have a heartbeat of between 55 and 70.
The driver and I had been discharged into the care of the police academy and were taken to the infirmary. Upon our arrival we found the staff member from PDT who had secured our release from hospital hours earlier waiting for us, he seemed to be controlling the whole situation.
In the infirmary there was a small room which contained one bed, whilst in the small room we decided the driver may as well have that bed and I would get the one outside. We decided to shower and try to get some rest.
It was only after I showered that I found my bed to be an examination table. I had little sleep that night due to pain and discomfort. I couldn't get comfortable. Every time I dozed off, discomfort or hurt would wake me.
I couldn't get comfortable or sleep on either side as my hips burned and were extremely sensitive to pressure. Lying on my back, although painful, was the most comfortable position I could achieve however this produced a burning sensation in my heels. Movement had to be gentle so as to avoid a stabbing feeling in my lower back. The pillow felt rock hard and any movement of my neck seemed to cause sharp pain up the right side of my neck into my skull. The back of my skull just throbbed.
Although there were no medical staff on hand, I did notice Academy Security check in on us whilst doing their rounds throughout the night.