Louise Kerse knew she would be unable to avoid colliding with the police car, so when the impact came she did what she thought was best: she relaxed.
As the unmarked police vehicle entered the central Christchurch intersection from the side on Tuesday, the 64-year-old nurse was drivingher 4WD Nissan Terrano through on a green light. She heard the sirens too late.
"I didn't have anywhere to go. It was going so fast. I thought 'oh my God' and I hung on, and then I just relaxed and I thought 'just go with it'."
After being struck, the Terrano flipped over and was propelled through the glass front of an office building.
"I remember turning over and sliding down the road. And that's when I'm thinking 'oh my God, where am I going to land up?' Then I heard all the crashing glass, but you see I never got cut. I'm just so lucky."
When her vehicle came to a stop, Mrs Kerse was trapped upside down for about 20 minutes.
"I was in total shock and dismay. I couldn't believe it. It seemed forever, and someone poked their head in and said, 'Who's in there?' I was a bit stuck, but I was okay."
Mrs Kerse is now in a neck brace and recovering from deep bruising, a bump on the head and various scrapes.
Two police investigations are under way into the crash, including one which will report to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
Christchurch police said the officer was following a speeding moped when he entered the intersection with his lights and sirens on.
Mrs Kerse has her own views on his driving but does not want to rush to judge.
"I don't know the full circumstances. You can only surmise.
"I have heard sirens before and I have been able to stop, or they have slowed down, and we have stopped to let them go. But there was no show with that this time."
A senior policeman is expected to visit her today to talk about what happened.
Mrs Kerse says she is only thankful she did not have her grandchildren in the vehicle with her.
