Aussie truckie dies from stray bullet on job

Ray — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:41:35 +0000

Bill Hearne Pic.

Alison Rehn
June 26, 2009 10:35am
THE wife of a truck driver caught in the crossfire of a violent Sydney shooting said her husband loved driving trucks.
Canberra truck driver Bob Knight, 66, was killed by a stray bullet as he drove past a shootout in Sydney’s south-west overnight.
The gunshots were fired during an altercation between a group of men in the car park of KFC in Milperra Road, Milperra – the suburb which was the scene of Sydney’s most famous bikie massacre – about 10:40pm last night, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Mr Knight’s wife Jeanette today paid tribute to her husband of 45 years, describing him as a “wonderful man and a lovely grandfather”.
At her home in the North Canberra suburb of Macgregor, Mrs Knight this morning told The Daily Telegraph her husband had two loves in life – dogs, and driving trucks.
“He was the most perfectionist driver. He was born to be a truckie,” she said.
Jeanette and Bob married in 1964 and had two children, David and Cathy, and three grandchildren, Georgia, three, Alli, 11, and Josh, 20.
The close-knit family gathered at the Knights’ home, with Bob’s pet German shepherds barking in the background.
“Dogs and trucks he loved,” Mrs Knight said.
“I think he would have worked till the end, and that’s what he did.
“He was just loving, giving to everybody. He was a wonderful husband. He loved life. He was very respected in the trucking industry.”
Mrs Knight said she knew something was wrong this morning when her daughter and family friends turned up, and woke her up.
“I was aware he wasn’t home because the lights were all on. And then my daughter just said, ‘Mum, wake up. Wake up’.
“I still can’t believe it. If the truck had rolled over, I could accept that. Not this.”
Mrs Knight said she still wanted to know exactly what happened, and why.
Police say an examination of the crime scene overnight indicates the truck driver was travelling along Milperra Road at the time of the shooting and was shot in the head.

Investigations at this point have ruled out links to Sydney’s on-going bikie wars.
After two other men aged in their 20s were also shot in the gunfight, the first Bankstown police on the scene chased a car speeding away through the streets of Milperra.
Police suggest more than three men – possibly as many as six – were involved in an argument at 10.40pm in the carpark of the KFC restaurant on the corner of Henry Lawson Drive and Milperra Road.
Officers called to the scene found a 26-year-old man, who is believed to have been involved in the firefight, suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
He was taken to Liverpool Hospital where he has undergone surgery and is in a serious but stable condition.
A 25-year-old man attended Bankstown Hospital on Thursday night with gunshot wounds.
He was transferred to Liverpool Hospital where he is undergoing surgery and is reported to be in a serious condition.
The driver of the car – a man believed aged in his 20s – was arrested and taken to Bankstown police station where he is now being held in custody.
Police also searched the area surrounding KFC and tragically, found the truck driver slumped in his white prime mover with TNT B-double trailers not far from the outlet.
The truck’s headlights were still on as paramedics worked frantically to try to revive the truckie but he died from massive head injuries.
A short time later one man attended Bankstown Hospital with gunshot wounds to the stomach.
A third man suffering chest wounds was taken by paramedics to Liverpool Hospital.
Both men were in serious but stable conditions today.

Information and News for Australian Truckies » canberra truckie dies in shootout

Aussie truckie dies from stray bullet on job