Car smash driver dodged road block
(CNS): The car crash on the West Bay Road in the early hours of Saturday morning came at the end of a police pursuit, the RCIPS has now confirmed. The collision of a Nissan Primera and a white Mercedes-Benz SUV involved five people and, contrary to earlier police reports, the drivers of both vehicles were badly injured, with the 21-year-old driver of the Nissan still in hospital, having undergone surgery. The chase happened after the Nissan had ignored police instructions at the road block and triggered a pursuit.
The chase ended when the speeding Nissan smashed into the back of the Mercedes, which in turn hit a CUC pole.
“It is unlawful not to obey a police signal to stop, whether it be at a police checkpoint, by a police vehicle with the use of emergency lights and siren, or by a police officer in uniform,” said Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton. “We need everyone to take responsibility for road safety.”
The chase began on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, where police were operating a road block, when the Nissan approached the checkpoint but did not stop.
“Officers followed the vehicle and activated their emergency lights,” the RCIPS said in a statement outlining the details of the chase.
The car pulled over soon after but once the officers began to get out of their car, the driver drove off. The police followed the Nissan, which they said was traveling at around 35 mph, but as it came across traffic on the West Bay Road, it pulled into the turning lane and accelerated to a very fast speed. As it approached the Queens Court plaza, it collided with the SUV.
Police said there were three people in the Nissan and two in the Mercedes. Members of the public helped police remove the passengers from the Nissan, which caught fire. All five people sustained injuries and two were admitted to the hospital. The passenger in the Mercedes was released from hospital Monday but the 21-year-old driver of the Nissan underwent surgery on Saturday and is still in the hospital in stable condition.
The incident is under police investigation.
