A police vehicle that was pursuing another driver on their mobile phone collided with Mrs Vieira’s car at the intersection of The Kingsway and Connels Road, Cronulla, on September 5. 

This morning the family made a scathing assessment of the police response to the accident in a statement to the media outside St George Hospital.

‘‘I have never seen a worse statement in my life,’’ Mrs Vieira’s husband, Bert, said

Read more: Police car reached speeds of 124 km/h in Cronulla crash

‘‘It’s an insult to my family and to everyone that has been hurt by a police car chase.

‘‘A statement like that should never be put out.’’

He also confirmed he would be suing NSW Police as part of his campaign to stop high-speed police chases.

“The only way to teach them a lesson is to make them hurt,” Mr Vieira said.

Mr Vieira said the family still can’t quite believe what has happened.

"I still wake up in the morning and think I'm going to cuddle her, but she's not there," he said.

"We are praying and hoping that she will come back to us. The hospital is doing everything they can."

Last Friday morning police confirmed that the police car which collided with Mrs Vieira’s car was travelling at a speed of 124 km/h in a 70km/h zone, without flashing lights or sirens.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, said police were taking the crash very seriously and his thoughts went out to the family.

“It is a very complicated crash we are dealing with a whole range of technologies … we are still going through the details,”  Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.

Mr Corboy said the officer had not been “fully interviewed” but says police are examining “reasonables” around risk assessment.

“There’s been a lot of commentary in the past week about police pursuits and I want to clarify issues around safe driver policy,” he said.

“NSW Police has a very stringent policy. It is there to make it safe for members of the community and for police performing their duty. 

“We have the unenviable task of having to make decision at any time of the night and day in relation to stopping motor vehicles in what is inherently a dangerous practice.

“There has been confusion round what it urgent duty and what are pursuits. There’s normal practice where we need to comply with the law when going about our normal duties. Urgent duty is the same as ambulance or fire brigade, when we need to get somewhere quickly.

“We have the exception under the Transport Act to speed and go through traffic lights to catch up with speeding motorists, or people doing the wrong thing.

“Included in this policy is the ability to catch up. In certain circumstances – and this happens all the time – we do radar or catch people on their mobile phones, some police are allowed to proceed without lights or sirens, based on risk.”

Read more: Emotional plea from family as Cronulla crash investigation continues

Mrs Vieira, who friends described as a well-known figure of the shire, suffered from broken bones, punctured lungs and remains in a coma with head trauma.

Her husband Bert says his family is trying to keep positive but want more action from police.

“I want someone to take responsibility of what happened. The policeman wiped his face from scratches and went home. My wife didn’t not come home to me,” Mr Vieira said.

“The hospital has been fantastic in keeping us updated – but the police have told us nothing.

“Be upfront and honest with us. It’s not like a parking fine. They’ve destroyed our family’s lives.

“I’m asking the Prime Minister and Premier to step up. Put traffic lights in because cars are flying. What’s next – chase someone for eating in their car?”

Read more: Move for traffic lights at police car crash corner

His son Trent says the process feels like a bad dream.

“It’s truly difficult,” he said. “We’re trying to be optimistic but mum is not responding and it’s now a waiting game until she wakes up to see the severity of her trauma. She was in a deep coma at the incident because she was hit so hard.”

“We just want to know what happened. We believe NSW should follow other legislations where there are no high speed pursuits.”