A police officer escaped injury after his car was rammed by a vehicle involved in a police pursuit through Christchurch early today.
Constable Kenneth Marriott said a brief chase unfolded around 3am before the car pulled over in Wordsworth St.
But before the police officer could get out of his car the chased vehicle made a fresh escape bid, side-swiping the police car as it fled the scene.
"It had stopped, did a u-turn and then sideswiped the car," said Mr Marriott.
The car sped off again but the police car was so badly damaged the chase was abandoned.
