A suspected drink-driver's vehicle was struck as he tried to "sneak around" an oncoming train at a railway crossing while fleeing police in Tauranga.
The man's vehicle was clipped at the front as he tried to make a getaway over the Dive Crescent crossing last night.
Tauranga police Senior Sergeant Carl Purcell
said the man was first spotted on security camera at 2.25am as he began leaving The Strand extension of the carpark. A passing police car called to the man, indicating they wanted him to stop for his apparent erratic driving, but the man instead tried to "sneak around" an oncoming train.
"As he was about to leave the carpark, he swung out to try and beat the train but chickened out. The front of his vehicle was clipped and the train pushed him off the railway line," Mr Purcell said.
The man's car was damaged but he was not injured.
A Western Bay man was taken to the Tauranga police station and processed for drink driving. It was unknown this morning whether he was to face dangerous or careless driving charges.
