Police Officer hit by drunk driver at checkpoint - narrowly misses two others

A Western Bay of Plenty Traffic Alcohol Group Police Officer was hit by a female drunk driver at an alcohol checkpoint on Papamoa Beach Rd, near Parton Rd on Saturday 12 June, 2010.

Sergeant Dan Roser of the Western Bay of Plenty Traffic Alcohol Group said the woman approached the checkpoint at around 7:15pm at approximately 50 kilometers per hour and only slowed at the last second, hitting the officer with a glancing blow on the side of her car. The officer suffered no injuries.

The 37 year old local woman was processed for drink driving. Her breath alcohol level was in excess 1330 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. Mr Roser said this is more than three times the legal adult alcohol level. She now faces charges of drink driving and careless driving. She was suspended from driving immediately.

The woman was one of four drunk drivers caught in Papamoa within the space of about an hour on Saturday night. Mr Roser said that some people may think they are not going to be tested in more remote areas, however drivers can expect to be stopped and breath tested anywhere and at anytime.

An 18 year old Katikati male was apprehended by the Western Bay of Plenty Traffic Alcohol Group after he sped through a checkpoint on Waihi Rd on Friday night at around 8:00pm. The male was seen by Police speeding at approximately 80-90 kilometers per hour as he approached the checkpoint and did not slow as he ran through narrowly missing two officers. He was apprehended further down the road and processed for drunk driving.

Sergeant Roser said the male had been processed for drunk driving three times previously. His breath alcohol level was in excess of 530 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, more than three and a half times the legal youth alcohol level. There were four passengers in the vehicle at the time who had been telling the driver to slow down. A mother of one of the young female passengers attended and was mortified at the danger her daughter had been in.

Sergeant Roser said the youth now faces charges of drunk driving, failing to stop for Police and dangerous speed. His car and licence were taken off him immediately.

The Western Bay of Plenty Traffic Alcohol Group processed 31 drunk drivers from Tauranga roads over the weekend.