A driver fleeing police after crashing his car clambered over an injured toddler in his haste to escape.
The young girl was yesterday being assessed at Waikato Hospital. A police officer was also injured during the car chase in Hamilton.
The driver is understood to be a patched member of
the Mongrel Mob and had a girl aged between 1 and 2 in the car when he was pulled over in Mill St just before midday yesterday.
He sped off and police gave chase.
A short time later the driver lost control on the corner of Rimu St and Maeroa Rd, uprooting a concrete signpost and hitting a traffic island.
He then reversed and accelerated, colliding with the police vehicle that was pursuing him.
That crash left a police officer with lacerations to his head.
Police said they were amazed and relieved the girl was not badly hurt. She was a front-seat passenger.
City deployment manager Inspector Karen Henrikson said the serious crash unit was investigating.
"The driver initially stopped; however, as the constable got out of his patrol car the offender accelerated away."
The officer reported a fleeing driver on his radio and began pursuing
but lost sight of the vehicle, she said.
"Witnesses at the scene describe a child as having been in the front of the car at this time.
"It appears the offender, who wasn't injured in the crash, tried to climb over her as he attempted to escape."
Witnesses said the young girl had bruising on her head.
The man was arrested moments after he tried to clamber over her to get out of his badly damaged car.
"Given the events described by the witnesses, we are very thankful the girl escaped serious injury and no other members of the public were involved," said Ms Henrikson.
Numerous charges were expected to be laid against the driver.
- NZPA
