Friday, 11 July 2008 - 6:11am |
National News

Porirua police officer killed on duty

1 min read

A Porirua policeman has died after being struck by a stolen car being pursued in Titahi Bay about 3am today.

Police serious crash investigators and specialists are still at the scene at Dimock Street, near the Downes Street intersection. A full investigation is underway.

Police are in the process of advising his family members. The officer's name is not publicly available at this point.

Inspector John Spence, Kapiti Mana Area Police Commander, said the officer's tragic death in the line of duty has devastated colleagues. Welfare support is in place for the officer's family and for colleagues, especially those first to the scene.

Details of how the fatality happened are still unfolding. It appears however that the officer had laid road spikes across Dimock Street when he was struck by the offending vehicle as it went through the spikes.

The car, which had been carjacked in Tawa, went through the spikes and was stopped by police about 300m further up the street.

CPR by police and ambulance officers were unsuccessful and the policeman died at the scene.

Two people who were in the offending vehicle are currently being spoken to by police.

Further details will be available later this morning.

Ends

Released by Kaye Calder

Wellington Police District communications manager

mobile: 0274 373 020