Two police vehicles damaged and one officer hurt in separate "high speed" pursuits

By Brett Campbell

Two police vehicles have been damaged in separate pursuits within 24 hours of each other.

A PSNI driver was treated in hospital after being rammed off the road in Co Antrim yesterday evening. 

The policeman attempted to pull over a blue BMW travelling along the M22 near Randalstown at around 5.20pm. 

However it failed to stop before deliberately colliding with the patrol car. 

The other vehicle involved was abandoned a short distance away and the assailant made off on foot across across nearby fields in the direction of Staffordstown Road.

The officer sustained extensive whiplash injuries in the incident.  

Detectives are appealing for information and are seeking dashcam footage of the BMW. 

A PSNI statement said: "A police officer has been treated in hospital after a car, which failed to stop for police, rammed a patrol vehicle during a pursuit yesterday afternoon, Saturday 25 April.

"At around 5.20pm a blue BMW was detected travelling at excessive speed on the M22 by a PSNI Road Policing and Safety patrol.

"The vehicle was signalled to stop but made off from officers. A pursuit of the vehicle, by a fully trained pursuit driver, was then authorised. 

"The driver of the BMW continued to try to evade police before ramming his vehicle into the police car, forcing it off the carriageway.

"The male police driver was subsequently treated in hospital for extensive whiplash injuries.

"The BMW was then abandoned in a layby on the Moneyknick Road and the driver is believed to have made off on foot across nearby fields towards the Staffordstown Road.

"Anyone who witnessed the incident or who captured footage is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1486 25/04/20."

Meanwhile a second pursuit took place on Sunday afternoon in north Antrim.

A speeding driver was pursued from the main A26 Frosses road to the Carrowcrin Road outside the village of Armoy.

The driver refused to stop.

PICTURE  KEVIN MCAULEY/MCAULEY MULTIMEDIA 

A Police Dog Handler, a PSNI helicopter and local Police were tasked.

Two arrests were made, a police care was damaged and the car being pursued ended up being burnt out.

PICTURE  KEVIN MCAULEY/MCAULEY MULTIMEDIA