Patrol car driver denies carelessness

A Napier police officer was just metres from catching a fleeing burglary suspect when he was run down by a patrol car, Napier District Court heard.

The claim was made during a defended hearing for Constable Bruce Miller, who faces a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury over the incident late on December 18, 2003.

Senior Constable Dennis Hurworth received broken ribs, cuts to his head, bruising and severe knee damage in the accident.

The court heard Mr Hurworth and another police officer were on foot, chasing a fleeing suspect as he rode a bicycle down a service lane off Dalton Street, Napier.

As the two officers ran after the rider, Mr Hurworth said he heard a vehicle revving its engine and approaching from behind. The next thing he knew, his leg had buckled and he was thrown on to the bonnet of the police car, before falling to the ground.

Miller, who was driving the patrol car, said the service lane was about the width of a normal road.

He said he pulled as far as he could to the right to pass the officers, but had no time to stop when Mr Hurworth made a "drastic" change of direction and ran in front of the car.

Mr Hurworth said he was running on a slight angle to the right of the lane and he denied suddenly changing direction.

Judge Tony Adeane reserved his decision.

- NZPA