Fatal crash an officer's 'worst nightmare'

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Fatal crash an officer's 'worst nightmare'

3News NZ

The police officer sustained minor injuries from the crash (Photo: Danielle Raethel)

The police officer sustained minor injuries from the crash (Photo: Danielle Raethel)

By 3 News online staff with NZN

The Counties-Manukau police commander says today’s fatal cop crash that killed an innocent motorist is an "officer’s worst nightmare".

The crash occurred shortly before 9am in East Tamaki while a police car was en route to a 'priority-one' event.

It is understood the police car crashed into a reversing vehicle. The passenger in the car died on the way to hospital.

Speaking at a police media briefing in Wellington, Counties-Manukau district commander Superintendent John Tims says that police work to help the community, not harm it.

“Officers come to work each day to keep communities safe and never want anything like this to happen,” he says

The officer involved was revealed to be a sergeant attending an in-progress robbery.

One of the alleged offenders had been taken into custody.

Mr Tims says the officer has been discharged from hospital but could give no further details.

“We support the police officer and his family,” he says.

The police officer was said to be "distressed and shocked" and would take some time off work to recover.

Mr Tims says the officer is legally responsible for his actions.

The police car was travelling on Ormiston Rd, approaching the intersection of Preston Rd and East Tamaki Rd.

A Z Energy petrol station attendant told Fairfax NZ the victim's car was reversing from a driveway when the crash occurred.

Mr Tims would not comment on how the cars collided, reports the 4WD was reversing out of a driveway at the time of the crash, or what speed the police car was travelling at.

Fatal crashes involving police cars were "very, very rare", he says.

Counties-Manukau Police say the vehicle was being driven by a male and carrying one passenger, a female in her 40s.

The woman died on the way to Middlemore Hospital and the male is in a serious but stable condition.

The woman's name was likely to be released later on Wednesday.

The police officer sustained minor injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit is investigating the incident and the Independent Police Conduct Authority has been advised.

"Our thoughts are with the family of the dead woman and the injured man who is in Middlemore Hospital," says Mr Tims.

"Police will do everything we can to support the family and extended family following this tragedy."

3 News / NZN

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Comments

31/08/2012 5:48:04 p.m.

Marie wrote:

I totally again with Gary & Dan. Omg goodness how can you judge this police officer or any police officer for doing his job...did you ever stop & wonder what if he was on his way to a call out from someone who is dear to you like your mother, sister, grand mother. It makes me very sad that you feel this way about our police officers who protect us in every way. I have total faith in our police & pray for them regularly. I'm very sorry for the poor lady who died but very sad for her husband as he will have to live with this for the rest of his life. I pray you angry people will soften your hearts towards police officers as the problem is not with them but with YOU. My prayers are with the police officer involved in this accident may you have a speedy recovery and if you don't know Jesus He knows you and loves you so much. God bless you...all for Jesus

30/08/2012 12:33:37 p.m.

martha epenisa wrote:

omg their should be no polices!

27/08/2012 8:44:48 p.m.

Filipe wrote:

Wat kind of police does that to a nice and beautiful tongan lady and that lady was my uncles wife Liku and my cuz sio is sooo sad that he lost his mother and how many Tongans have you police killed.

24/08/2012 4:22:39 p.m.

maya wrote:

that is so sad 2 da woman who died. her kids come to my skewl the police is dum 2 du dat. the victims children are soooo sad about this tradegy. this wuld not have hapened if the police drove slower instead of speeding and crashing into this inisint car. this is a insident that we will never forget. the police has caused other people 2 die in my family 2 and i cannot forgive them a dng that. i know how her children are feeling 2 loose an important nd loved 1 in thier family. so the police du something about this 2 reduce crashes made by use. thanks.

24/08/2012 9:55:01 a.m.

Gary wrote:

DAN was he backing out or driving in?? Get the facts right first before you condemn him and blame him for the death of his wife? Sirens, priority one call does not give them ultimate right to drive with out undue care and attention of others? Police are highly trained in driving that is why they are given such high performance vehicles and permitted to drive at such high speeds. They are trained to look out for all possible eventualities. Stop with your nonsense about giving way or checking the road was clear. We do not expect a fast speeding car to come hurtling towards us and we all make mistakes at times. That is why it is the police responsibility to take into account all these factors and drive at a speed suitable for the conditions of the road at that time.

23/08/2012 5:48:19 p.m.

Dan wrote:

Gary the person entering onto a road has the duty to take care not the person driving straight down it. The policeman was responding to a priority one event and had the right to be speeding and he had his sirens on so that members of the public could stay out of the way. The rest of your posts are just conspiratorial nonsense. Get a grip; the man backing out of the driveway was not taking due care and his wife paid the price.

23/08/2012 4:05:36 p.m.

MH wrote:

So easy for all these people to leave comments as uze werent there....in regards to GG's comment, the siren was on but at last minute wen almost to the lights...Police shoulgd be more aware of when to turn on sirens and when to turn it off as sometimes they overtake vehicles with a sudden siren and having to give other drivers a shock.. who would be stupid to still turn if the siren was heard afar?no one would. so this was the reason why this couple turned in as they did not hear the siren aswell as the lady giving way to them to drive in..yea! the police is doing there job, and so as this lady and his husband. They were on there way to clean the church as they have been doing it for the past 9 years..It is important for the police to do theiir job but they should take other innocent's live in considerate.....I support the comment of GARY, police sometimes dont care about what others consider so such careless action of that driver should be put down form his job,but what use can it do now? like as if it will bring back the lady...overall Police should be more carefull on the road, everyonge goes places for a reason and living an incocent life is a reason so take others life in considerate and dont be selfish for you cant replace one's life.

23/08/2012 3:36:45 p.m.

Seriously wrote:

Hey any one who Knows Mr Onesi better warn him not to talk to the Police without a lawyer present. They will try and pin this on him if they get the chance.

23/08/2012 3:30:50 p.m.

Gary wrote:

GG sirens, priority one event. How ever you look at this the police are at fault. Regardless of the situation their response should at no time endanger the lives of the general public that is why they are so highly trained. Sometimes you hear sirens and think it is coming from behind you when it is actually coming towards you. That alone makes you pay less attention to the immediate road conditions or take the wrong action. It is the Police driving at such high speeds that have to account for all these situations.

23/08/2012 1:52:19 p.m.

Dan wrote:

Jack: Firstly, what has race got to do with it? You are the one trying to make it an issue. Secondly, manslaughter does not require intent. You're thinking of murder. Failure to take due care resulting in death could substantiate a charge of manslaughter or at the least careless driving causing death. Finally, the officer's sirens were on as a later news story shows. So yes it appears he did fail to take due care and should be charged