The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into an officer who crashed his Police car while attempting to lay road spikes in Whângarei.
At 2am on 11 October 2022, Police were looking for four stolen cars driven by young people. An officer drove at speed under lights and siren to set road spikes ahead of the cars.
The officer entered a roundabout at high speed, hit the bevelled edge of the roundabout and lost control. He steered under heavy braking across the lane, through a low concrete wall by a bridge and landed in the garden below. The officer was the only occupant of the Police car and uninjured. He tested negative for alcohol. The Police car was extensively damaged and written off.
Police investigated and established that the Police car was travelling at 142kph in a 50kph zone approximately 7 seconds before hitting the kerb and crashing through the concrete wall.
The officer was charged with dangerous driving, pleaded guilty and was convicted. The Authority is satisfied with the outcome of Police investigation.
IPCA: 22-15643