KEY POINTS:
Police are investigating one of their own - a Taranaki constable who crashed an unmarked car while off-duty.
The Taranaki Daily News reported the policeman crashed in New Plymouth at 2.30am last Sunday.
He had been stood down, on full pay, while the incident was investigated.
New Plymouth police area commander Inspector Fiona Prestidge confirmed the incident and said the car was "severely damaged".
The constable was taken to hospital but not admitted.
"He was injured and went for medical treatment. Hence a blood sample was taken at hospital," Ms Prestidge told the newspaper.
"Injured people don't get requested to do a breath test."
Ms Prestidge said officers needed approval to take police vehicles home.
"The circumstances of this car being taken is part of the investigation," she said.
- NZPA
