Video has surface online that alleges a police car struck a bystander during an incident involving a group of up to 200 car enthusiasts/boy racers in Te Puke recently.
But police reject this claim saying the patrol car was driving slowly through the group of cars with its lights and sirens on to clear the road and move the group along, which resulted in several people getting out of their vehicles and jumping on the patrol car.
A video uploaded to YouTube purportedly showing a police patrol car striking a bystander during an incident near Te Puke last Friday. SunLive has edited the video to remove profanity embedded into the video clip. Supplied Photo.
The nine second video uploaded to YouTube on the night of the incident shows the exact moment the bystander is allegedly struck by the patrol car, but not what happens leading up to the incident.
On Friday, August 19, police received reports of an estimated 100-200 car enthusiasts/boy racers travelling in convoy and causing traffic chaos between Papamoa and Te Puke at about 11pm.
In a statement sent to SunLive, police say a truck driver reported nearly running into the back of a smaller group of these racers and had to stop suddenly to avoid a collision.
The group split up and travelled to different rural locations before eventually regathering at the intersection of Old Coach and Pongakawa School roads.
'They blocked this intersection and the occupants of the vehicles lined both sides of the road observing other drivers losing control of their vehicles in what is described as sustained loss of traction, or burn-outs,” say police.
'This was extremely dangerous given the close proximity of vehicles to pedestrians.”
Once police caught up with the group, this is when the alleged incident is said to have occurred.
Extra staff were then called to the scene to assist and two patrol vehicles had bottles and other objects thrown at them. It took police nearly two hours to move the group on.
'No one at any time was deliberately run over by a patrol car,” asserts police.
'This unsafe driving, then dangerous parking and latter actions by the drivers increased the risk of a crash, as well as the possibility of injury or death and they were very lucky that no one was injured.”
As a result of last Friday's incident, one person was summonsed for sustained loss of traction and will be appearing in the Tauranga District Court. Police were unable to confirm the court date.
Fairfax reports a person who was there at the time of the incident has sent Bay of Plenty Police a private message via Facebook apologising on behalf of everyone who attended last week's car meet.
'Unfortunately there are too many idiots out to [cause] trouble, drink, litter and be a nuisance, that give us genuine car enthusiasts a terrible name,” the message read.
'The cops shouldn't have to put up with young people throwing bottles and yelling abuse, it's embarrassing for the people who respect the laws and don't want trouble.
'There has been quite a few people saying the same thing on Facebook, so I thought I would take the time to apologise on our behalf. Unfortunately, it's the select bunch that ruin it for everyone.”
14 comments
I am sorry
Posted on 26-08-2016 08:21 | By wtf
but that looked more like the person was leaning on the bonnet. It didn't look like the cops run him over. And lets face it if they gonna get in front of a moving car at night ...People amaze me- they get in front of a moving vehicle and are surprised when they get run over.
nz law
Posted on 26-08-2016 08:31 | By hapukafin
obey our law and you wont get arrested,shot or runover.its so easy
Police charged Chester
Posted on 26-08-2016 09:24 | By Murray.Guy
Didn't the Police charge MP Chester Borrows in similar circumstances in Wanganui?
No sympathy with hoons
Posted on 26-08-2016 09:50 | By Annalist
On a road people need to get out of the way of cars, don't they?
Sad NZ Police
Posted on 26-08-2016 11:11 | By Capt_Kaveman
This is where the army must be called in to contain the group as really this is an unawful assembly, 1-200 cars only one arrest what a sad result
Murray Guy
Posted on 26-08-2016 11:52 | By Kenworthlogger
Was MP Chester Burrows driving a police car with flashing lights trying to move on hundreds of boy racers doing burnouts sorry i mean sustained loss of traction? I dont think so! And you want people to vote you for Mayor? Really?
But..
Posted on 26-08-2016 13:02 | By hostile
Regardless who is at fault..Isnt it illegal to not stop and check to see if they are alright? The Police has clearly knocked him over and drove away.
good one police!!
Posted on 26-08-2016 16:52 | By jed
These turkeys were just looking for trouble and playing it up.Don't stand in front of cars and you won't get run over. I can't stand boyracers, there is no good reason to do what they do.
WHO IS AT FAULT
Posted on 26-08-2016 17:08 | By sheild
A police car with flashing lights! Get out of the way!Lets see anyone stop with a crowd of over 100 out of control youths to see if the idiot is ok. The cop would have been attacked as was evident with the bottle throwing.Every car that participated should have been impounded as party to the burnouts and disorder remind them about the crusher and even better let the insurance companies know what the cars are being used for watch the premiums sore and cars get parked up.The cars filled Papamoa Plaza car park and Parton Road earlier intimidating normal road users.
Hostile
Posted on 26-08-2016 18:15 | By Kenworthlogger
If you had hundreds of youths throwing bottles at your car and yelling abuse at you would you stop and get out?
Keep calm Kenworthlogger
Posted on 27-08-2016 22:40 | By Murray.Guy
Every sympathy for the Police but also for the MP at risk going about his lawful business. I wouldn't be stopping and possible less cautious in my haste for self preservation.
hollywood
Posted on 28-08-2016 07:12 | By tonyb1965
Looks like a staged lean and roll just another opportunist stupid idiot
Agree with hapukafin
Posted on 28-08-2016 14:57 | By carpedeum
Totally- dont break the laws and nothing will happen to you.
Zero tolerance
Posted on 06-09-2016 08:05 | By maildrop
You give people an inch, they take a mile. We have become too soft and the result is anarchy, as we can see. I doubt Moscow has ever seen 200 morons blocking roads, goading the cops and bottling them? I like the Russian way of policing. No tolerance, no nonsense, no bowing down to morons. Bang. The "west", which is buckling under out of control crime rates, likes to paint some countries as evil, but at least they actually detect, prevent and deal with crime accordingly.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.