Police officer charged with drink driving

A Taranaki police officer has been charged with drink driving, after failing a breath test at the scene of a double fatal accident north of New Plymouth.

Jonathan Erwood, the sole-charge policeman at Mokau, will appear in court in New Plymouth on August 3.

Mr Erwood was called out from his home to the crash on State Highway 3 on July 9.

Police said another officer thought Mr Erwood had been drinking and he was given a roadside breath test, which he failed.

Mr Erwood took an evidential breath test at Waitara, which he failed and then elected to have blood taken which was sent for analysis.