Officer cleared of careless driving count

Napier Constable Bruce Miller has been cleared of a charge of careless driving causing injury over an incident where another police officer was struck and injured by Mr Miller's patrol car during a chase in 2003.

During a hearing on Tuesday, Napier District Court was told Senior Constable Dennis Hurworth and another officer were running down a service lane in the evening, chasing a suspect on a bicycle.

Mr Miller drove up the lane in a patrol car, and decided to pass the two officers, who were over to the left of the lane, to assist in catching the suspect.

He said he pulled as far as possible to the right and began to accelerate past, but had no time to brake when Mr Hurworth made a "drastic" change of direction and ran in front of the car.

Mr Hurworth denied making any sudden change of direction.

Judge Tony Adeane, in a written decision, said police were expected in the course of their duties to drive in conditions which could potentially be dangerous.

Evidence gathered by investigators left open the possibility that Mr Hurworth had moved into the path of the car.

- NZPA