Wanganui police officer dragged by car

Photo / File

A Wanganui police officer ended up clinging to a speeding car as it careered along Victoria Ave.

The officer hung on as the driver swerved from side to side in an attempt to shake him off, but he was eventually thrown off as the vehicle went over judder bars.

The officer slid along the road, crashing into parked cars. He was taken to hospital.

The incident happened about 9.40pm last Saturday when a police unit signalled for a vehicle in Victoria Ave to pull over due to the unsafe manner it was being driven in, Whanganui area commander Inspector Steve Mastrovich said yesterday.

The vehicle had pulled over and stopped and an officer had got out of the patrol car to speak to the driver.

As the officer arrived at the driver's side of the vehicle it was driven forward, so he had reached through the window to try to turn the engine off.

The driver had then grabbed the officer's wrist and accelerated forward at the same time, leaving the officer unable to free himself.

As the vehicle had gained speed, the officer was able to put his other arm through the open rear window and hold on to the vehicle's pillar.

After being thrown from the car, the injured officer was helped by a colleague and members of the public. Inspector Mastrovich expressed his gratitude to the people who helped.

The officer's legs and arms were grazed. The vehicle fled the scene, but police inquiries resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old Wanganui man on Monday.

He has been charged with dangerous driving causing injury, failing to stop for police and driving while suspended, and will appear in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.

Police said further charges were likely.