Four officers injured as van rams patrol cars
Four officers were injured when their police vehicles were rammed by a van in Jonesborough, south Armagh, last night (August 17).
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the silver-coloured Ford Transit van forced one vehicle off the road, injuring two officers, and then collided with another police vehicle, “lifting it off the ground” and injuring the two officers inside.
The driver, a 31-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of several offences, including handling stolen goods, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and driving without insurance. He remained in custody this morning.
The PSNI said the officers were on patrol on Finnegans Road at around 11.45pm when they were “alerted to the manner in which a silver-coloured Ford Transit van was being driven”.
It added: “The driver of the van subsequently rammed the police vehicle, forcing it off the road. Two officers sustained minor injuries.
“As the van continued on, officers in another police vehicle on Finnegans Road, made an attempt to stop it. However, the van collided with the police vehicle, lifting it off the ground, and a further two police officers were injured.”
PSNI District Commander of Newry, Mourne and Down, Superintendent Jane Humphries, said: “Unfortunately, due to the nature of the injuries sustained by our officers, they have been unable to return to duty today.
“We have also had to take two police vehicles off the road so they can be examined for road worthiness, which affects our service delivery.
“There is also the impact in terms of our officers and their welfare, as well as the cost of repairs to the vehicles, which is substantial.”
