13 Sep 2018

Police officer breaks leg when hit by patrol car following chase

10:51 am on 13 September 2018

A police officer ended up with a broken leg when he was hit by a patrol car after a police chase.

A police car parked on the street.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Police attempted to pull over a speeding vehicle on Ngongotaha Road, Rotorua, about 2.40am today.

The driver failed to stop and police gave chase.

Road spikes at the intersection of State Highway 29 and McLaren Falls Road eventually stopped the driver.

But as the pursuing officer was getting out of his vehicle to arrest the driver, he was involved in a collision with another patrol car arriving on scene.

That patrol car then collided with a third police vehicle.

The officer sustained a broken leg and was taken to hospital.

There were no further injuries.

Police say a 31-year-old man with two outstanding warrants was arrested and charged with driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, failing to stop and possession of a knife in a public place.

He is due to appear in Tauranga District Court today.