Driver Narrowly Misses Rbt Cop
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday April 27, 2004
WOLLONGONG police have arrested a Woonona man who allegedly drove through a random breath test yesterday, narrowly missing a police officer who had to jump out of the way.
The Wollongong Highway Patrol officer had signalled the driver to stop at an RBT, set up on the northbound lanes of the northern distributor at Fairy Meadow just before 2pm.
Police allege the vehicle, travelling at more than 100km/h in an 80km/h zone, did not slow down, forcing the officer to take evasive action to avoid being struck.
Wollongong police Acting Inspector Ken Curry said the car hit the Stop, Police sign the officer was holding and caused damage to the car windscreen and bonnet.
``The officer was not injured but he was shaken by the incident ... It spun him around 180 degrees as the vehicle hit the sign and the sign went flying 5-10m up in the air," he said.
A highway patrol car pursued the offenders, but the pursuit ended when the vehicle entered the Corrimal CBD.
A 19-year-old man was later arrested at his Woonona home and charged with assaulting police, driving in a manner dangerous and failing to stop at an RBT.
Bail was refused and the man is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court today.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury