Three PSNI officers sustained injuries in Derry on Saturday night after a driver rammed a patrol car and collided with multiple civilian vehicles during a dangerous driving incident.
“Officers on patrol in the Glenabbey Estate area of Derry were approaching the Skeoge Link just before 10pm on Saturday, when they spotted a red Mercedes C220, which appeared to be performing doughnuts at the roundabout,” Inspector O'Donnell told the Irish Mirror.
The car subsequently lost control and stopped. Police recognized the vehicle because it had failed to stop for them earlier that same evening during similar behavior in the neighborhood, The Irish News reported.
Officers activated their emergency lights and approached the stationary Mercedes. The driver then accelerated directly into the police cruiser, ramming it head-on. Two officers got out of the vehicle to arrest the driver, who continued ramming the patrol car repeatedly while they tried pulling him out. The reversing Mercedes also struck a third vehicle owned by a member of the public.
The driver accelerated toward one of the officers before speeding away on the wrong side of the carriageway toward the Buncrana Road. The car struck another civilian vehicle before finally exiting the roundabout.
Three police officers required hospital treatment for their injuries. The patrol car and two civilian vehicles sustained heavy damage during the sequence.
“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,” a PSNI spokesperson said.
Investigators launched an urgent appeal for witnesses and footage following the incident. Officers asked anyone with dash-cam, CCTV, or other recordings to come forward.
“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,” the PSNI stated.
Members of the public can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org.
The incident occurred in the Glenabbey Estate area of Derry near the Skeoge Link roundabout.
Three vehicles sustained damage, including a police patrol car and two cars belonging to members of the public.
Witnesses can call police on 101 quoting reference 1434 of 14/11/26 or use the online PSNI reporting form.