Senior Constable Gregory Ralston from the critical response team of Victoria Police told an inquest into the 2018 tragedy that he came face to face in a narrow street with James Gargasoulas after stabbing his brother and before mowing down pedestrians, killing six and injuring 27.
The court heard on Monday that the specialist unit made way for Gargasoulas to pass after he waved them “out of the way” as their vehicles edged closer at a South Melbourne street on 20 January, 2018. He drove towards Sergeant Constable Ralston and Critical Incident Response Unit Sergeant Peck at about 40km/hour with a woman passenger in his car, but he was allowed to pass because they didn’t want to be hit.
Hours after coming into contact with the police in a one-way service lane alongside Albert Road, Gargasoulas drove onto the city footpath, ramming down pedestrians.
On Monday, Sergeant Peck conceded it was a “missed opportunity” to stop the wanted man.
The inquest continued on Wednesday.