Police car crashes after accelerator error in Napier while responding to dangerous driver

A police officer had “a slight error with the accelerator” and crashed a car into a fence just as they pulled up to an accident scene in Napier today.

Police were responding to reports of a motorist overtaking and driving dangerously in the Napier South area about 4pm, a police spokeswoman said.

The responding officers decided not to chase the motorist “due to the manner of driving”.

The offending motorist’s vehicle later hit a lamppost in the middle of the roundabout at Wellesley Rd and Latham St.

Then the responding police officers crashed.

The spokeswoman said: “There was a police vehicle that arrived on scene, the officers inside assisted in apprehending the [offending] trio on foot.

“Before getting out of their vehicle, a slight error with the accelerator caused the police vehicle to nudge a fence.

“But no significant damage [reported] to the car or the officers.”

The people in the car that crashed into the lamppost fled on foot before they were arrested.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.

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