'An absolute waste': Police officer remains in ICU after being hit by vehicle
A New Zealand police officer is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle while deploying road spikes in Palmerston North. Two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, have been charged in connection with the incident.
Why it matters
The incident has sparked public concern regarding youth crime and the safety of law enforcement personnel in New Zealand.
A senior police officer says he stood at the bedside of a critically injured colleague in despair over the weekend, listening to machines whirring and thought "what an absolute waste".
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the young policeman was allegedly hit by a fleeing driver in Palmerston North as he lay road spikes.
It was not the only incident in the region - with another man critically injured after being hit by a car in Feilding just two hours earlier. The driver fled the scene, police said.
The injured policeman was flown to Wellington Hospital, where he remains in intensive care.
On Monday, Central District Commander Superintendent Dion Bennett told Morning Report the officer was in a stable condition but remained on a ventilator.
"It's a time (to) wait and see as time heals him."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in