Officer on ventilator after being hit by teens in allegedly stolen car

A police officer who was hit by a fleeing driver while laying road spikes in Palmerston North overnight remains on a ventilator in a critical condition, police have confirmed this afternoon.

Superintendent Dion Bennett said the Palmerston North based officer was deploying spikes on Kairanga Bunnythorpe Rd at about 2am on Saturday when he was struck by a vehicle and thrown several metres.

The vehicle had been signalled to stop minutes earlier on Amberley Rd but failed to do so and allegedly fled.

Bennett said the officer was positioned behind his patrol car, preparing to deploy spikes at a driveway between Rongotea Rd and Gillespies Line when the vehicle approached.

“The suspect vehicle was travelling eastbound on the wrong side of Kairanga Bunnythorpe Rd when it struck the police vehicle, and then the two officers," he said.

Full video: Police speak after officer critically injured by fleeing driver

Speaking to media in Wellington this afternoon, Bennett said the injured officer had remained critical since the crash.

"I've been at the hospital since his arrival in Wellington, with his family, who are fantastic people, and he still remains critical. He's on a ventilator, and it's a matter of time and waiting until such time as a medical team can make further assessments and give us a prognosis."

Police said the critically injured officer was airlifted to Wellington Hospital, where he remained this afternoon surrounded by family and friends.

The second officer was thrown into the side of a parked car and suffered minor injuries. He was treated at the scene.

Bennett said initial inquiries indicated the vehicle may have been stolen.

The occupants of the fleeing vehicle, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, were taken into custody at the scene. Police were due to speak with them and charges were being considered.

“We are extremely grateful the outcome was not worse and that is thanks to the efforts of those who responded," Bennett said.

"The officers’ colleagues were faced with an appalling situation and I’m incredibly proud of them.

"I would also like to acknowledge the determination of the air rescue crew, who transported our officer to Wellington in spite of challenging weather conditions. Everyone went above and beyond to save a life last night, and it made the difference."

Asked to speak about the injured officer, Bennett described a young father early in his policing career.

"He's a fantastic young man. He's a young dad. Him and his partner have a young toddler, and he comes from a very strong family, who are service orientated. They describe him as having a deep soul for a young man, and importantly, in their words, he's a good bloke," he said.

"He's the type of person that you want to sit down and have a conversation with, and certainly in his short career as a police officer — he graduated in December 2024 — he certainly proved to be that."

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers visited the injured officer at Wellington Hospital this afternoon, and said he would travel to Palmerston North this evening to speak with staff involved.

"We are humbled by the support from members of the community and people across the country, and on behalf of my staff, I thank everyone who has sent kind messages of support," Chambers said.

A serious crash unit investigation was carried out, and the road remained partially closed.

Police had launched a critical incident investigation. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has been notified.

Matthew McDonald, who lives across the road from where the crash happened, told 1News his wife woke him just after 2am after hearing sirens nearby.

"[I] came across the road and found a whole lot of vehicles parked up here — well, crunched up here."

By the time he reached the scene, a heavy police presence had already gathered.

"When I came across from my house, maybe there was four or five police cars already here."

He said he understood the car had then left the road, taking out part of a fence before coming to rest.

"The silver car left the road straight across the road from here and hit the police car and went through the fence and took out four concrete posts, and then landed up hard up against the concrete strainer."

In a statement to 1News, Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he would be travelling to Wellington today to offer his support.

"My thoughts go out to the injured officers, their family and colleagues.

"It is a tragic event where we have two injured police officers and one of them in a critical condition.

"I’d ask that people keep the injured officers and their family and colleagues in their thoughts and continue to support the dedicated work our officers do in our community every single day.

"Police are carrying out an investigation but it’s very early days and we need to give them room to do that."