Mercedes driver rams police car head on in Derry
Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a dangerous driver rammed a police vehicle and collided with two other vehicles in Derry on Saturday night.
Inspector O’Donnell said: “Officers on mobile patrol in the Glenabbey Estate area of the city just before 10pm were approaching the Skeoge Link when they spotted a red Mercedes C220 which appeared to be diffing at the roundabout. It subsequently appeared to lose control and came to a stop.
“Recognising it as a vehicle which had failed to stop for them earlier that evening while engaging in similar behaviour in the same area, officers approached the car and activated their emergency lights. However, the Mercedes then accelerated towards the stationary police car, ramming it head-on.
“Two police officers exited the vehicle and attempted to arrest the driver. However, he continued to ram the police vehicle several times while they tried to remove him from the car. While doing so, the Mercedes also reversed into a third vehicle, owned by a member of the public.
“After ramming the police car and member of the public’s vehicle several times, the driver of the Mercedes drove towards one of the officers before making off on the wrong side of the carriageway in the direction of the Buncrana Road. It then collided with another vehicle before exiting the roundabout.
“This was incredibly reckless and dangerous behaviour which resulted in three police officers being injured and attending hospital for treatment, with a police vehicle and two members of the public’s vehicles also damaged.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone with any information which may assist – including dash-cam, CCTV or other footage – to contact police using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals, quoting reference 1434 of 14/11/26, or to call us on 101.”
Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.