Officer escapes injury as car door destroyed

The damaged police car at the scene of yesterday's accident. Photo / Peter Jackson

An unmarked police car had its driver's door all but ripped off when it was hit by another vehicle near Kaitaia.

The Kerikeri-based officer who had been driving the car, and was standing beside it at the time, was lucky not to be hurt, Northland road-policing manager Inspector Wayne Ewers said.

The officer had stopped a vehicle on the Awanui Straight yesterday morning as it was heading towards Kaitaia and pulled off to the side of the road in front of it.

Another car travelling south managed to pass the first vehicle but struck the police car's door.

The driver stopped a short distance away, where he was spoken to by police. Mid North officers were in Kaitaia as part of Operation Distractions, which Mr Ewers said was otherwise going well.

A few tickets had been issued to drivers for using cell phones, while yesterday's work began with a checkpoint in Kaitaia, followed by Mangonui, Kaeo and back towards Kerikeri.

Meanwhile, just before 10pm on Tuesday, two men were lucky to escape serious injury when a sports car skidded off State Highway 10, first hitting a signpost on the right-hand side of the road then over-correcting and crashing into bushes on the left.

The accident occurred at the Waiare Rd junction south of Kaeo.

Kaeo fire chief Lindsay Murray said it appeared the driver was heading south and lost control of the vehicle on a corner.

The men's injuries appeared to be minor but one man was taken to hospital in a neck brace as a precaution.

Earlier in the day, just before 3pm, a car rolled on Ngawha Springs Rd east of Kaikohe. The vehicle came to rest on its roof, blocking one lane.

When emergency services arrived, two men, one with minor leg injuries, were at the scene. They claimed to be hitch-hikers and said the driver had left.

Kaikohe firefighters took charge of traffic and cleared debris. Police are investigating the crashes.