Officer on ventilator after being hit by teens in allegedly stolen car
A police officer in Palmerston North, New Zealand, is in critical condition on a ventilator after being struck by a fleeing vehicle. The officer was deploying road spikes when the suspect, who had failed to stop for police, hit him and a second officer.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the extreme dangers faced by law enforcement during high-speed pursuits and the ongoing public safety concerns regarding fleeing drivers.
<p>A police officer who was hit by a fleeing driver while laying road spikes in Palmerston North overnight remains on a ventilator in a critical condition, police have confirmed this afternoon. </p> <p>Superintendent Dion Bennett said the Palmerston North based officer was deploying spikes on Kairanga Bunnythorpe Rd at about 2am on Saturday when he was struck by a vehicle and thrown several metres. </p> <p>The vehicle had been signalled to stop minutes earlier on Amberley Rd but failed to do so and allegedly fled.</p> <p><b></b><a href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/player/newsclip/officer-hit-by-fleeing-vehicle-in-palmerston-north-critically-injured-1" target="_blank"><b>Officer hit by fleeing vehicle in Palmerston North, critically injured - Watch on TVNZ+</b></a></p> <p>Bennett said the officer was positioned behind his patrol car, preparing to deploy spikes at a driveway between Rongotea Rd and Gillespies Line when the vehicle approached.
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