The cordon at Buxton Square car park in central Nelson where two police officers were critically injured after their patrol car was rammed. Photo / Tracy Neal
Warning: Distressing content.
Two police officers and one member of the public have been injured in a violent incident in Nelson in the early hours of this morning.
It is understood at least one of the officers is fighting for their life.
Police are expected give an update at 3pm.
At approximately 2.10am, a vehicle driven by a member of the public struck a police vehicle at a gathering in the Buxton Square Carpark in Nelson.
Video of the incident, filmed by a bystander inside a nearby car, showed two officers appearing to restrain a person on the ground next to their patrol car as a small crowd congregated nearby.
The footage then showed a white minivan driving across the carpark in the direction of police as a person could be heard yelling in shock.
“Oh my god, oh my god,” a young woman said after the impact, as other bystanders walked towards the point of impact and another police vehicle arrived with lights flashing.
“What the f*** did I just witness?” a young man yelled.
The Herald has edited the video to omit the moment of impact.
Hato Hone St John said three of its ambulances, two rapid response vehicles and an operations manager attended the incident and transported two patients to Nelson Hospital, both critically injured.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, confirmed that two officers were critically injured.
“The member of the public was seriously injured as a result,” he said.
“They have been transported to Nelson Hospital.
“The Buxton Square area is cordoned while a scene examination is conducted.
“The driver of the vehicle has been arrested and will be charged.”
Police said further information about the incident would be released when available.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell commented on the incident on X, formerly Twitter.
“I’m travelling to Nelson following the tragic incident this morning,” he said.
“This is devastating and heartbreaking for family, friends, the police family and for the country to wake up to news like this.”
A NZME reporter at the scene said there were still a number of police vehicles inside the cordon.
People who live near the incident scene described hearing “a terrible, loud noise” they realise now must have been the police car being hit.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the incident was “an awful start for the new year” for the community.
“We rely on our police to keep our community safe, and to have police officers deliberately targeted by (the alleged offender) driving a vehicle and seriously injuring them is truly repugnant,” he said.
“We hope and wish and pray for the recovery of the police officers that have been critically injured.
“The thoughts of the Nelson community are with those police and our community will want... the offender to be held to account.
“It is an attack on everybody when our police are subjected to this sort of violence, as they try and support a community like Nelson, wanting to simply celebrate and bring in the new year.”
Smith said it was “obvious” the incident was “a deliberate attack”.
“It was not accidental. It was deliberately directed at the police,” he said.
“There was a member of the public injured as well... it is just so horrific when the very people tasked with the job of keeping us safe are deliberately targeted in this way.”
Smith was “pleased” someone was in custody.
“We will want the perpetrator to be held fully accountable, not just for the attack on the individuals, but the fact that they are police officers,” he said.
“We have to make sure that this sort of violence is held to account and that we send a very clear message that it is totally unacceptable.”
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