The parents of slain police officer Josh Prestney say they are filled with a pain that takes their breath away and are "broken".
Constable Prestney was killed on Wednesday as a truck careered into him and three of his colleagues while they were dealing with a Porsche driver in an emergency lane on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway.
Andrew and Belinda Prestney issued a statement describing their son, who only graduated as a policeman in December.
They said Constable Prestney was a bright light who was "creative, insightful, loving and genuine".
He had many talents and interests, including a love of music, playing the guitar, distance running and cycling. He was an avid Collingwood Football Club supporter and loved basketball and the LA Lakers.
Constable Joshua Prestney (left) was one of four Victorian police officers killed on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne on Wednesday. Source: Victoria Police
He studied a Bachelor of Creative Industries Management and worked at Melbourne bike shops Fitzroy Cycles and Canyon Bikes.
But their son found his calling with Victoria Police after seeing how much his younger brother Alex loved the job.
"The proudest moment of our lives was when Alex presented Josh with his badge at the graduation ceremony in December last year," the parents wrote.
"We cannot fathom the circumstances that have led us to this point."
Their second son Alex, only 18 months younger, had lost his best friend and Constable Prestney's partner Stacey had lost her "angel", they said.
"They were perfect for one another and had made plans for their future together," the parents wrote.
"Our heart bleeds for her."
The parents said they were broken.
"The thought of never hearing his guitar playing throughout the house, never sharing our sporting adventures together again, never going to the football with him again, never laughing over silly family jokes with him again breaks our hearts and fills us with a pain that has taken our breath away."
The family thanked their family and friends, the Xavier College and Loreto Toorak communities and Victoria Police for their support.
(L-R) Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King, Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor and Constable Joshua Prestney were killed. Source: Victoria Police
Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Glen Humphris died alongside Constable Prestney when a refrigerated truck veered to the left and hit them at 100km/h.
On Friday Constable Humphris' partner of four years, Todd Robinson, to his "soul mate".
Mr Robinson described Constable Humphris as a "bubbly, outgoing, and loving" person who was passionate about the outdoors.
The tragic crash was the single greatest loss of life in Victoria Police history.
The truck driver suffered a medical episode afterward and remains under police guard at hospital with police yet to interview him.
Richard Pusey, the Porsche driver, is behind bars, accused of a string of offences, including failing to assist the dying officers and will appear in court in July.
