Police van in fatal accident
PA Auckland The death of an Auckland man hit by a police vehicle on Saturday is being investigated. The man was
Michael James Gibson, aged 18, of Hillsborough. He died when hit by a police dog handler’s van in Henderson, shortly before midnight.
The van was on its way to an incident in Ranuh The police said it was travelling at 80 km/h in a 50 km/h area when the accident occurred.
Senior-Sergeant Mark Hall of Henderson said the matter was being investigated. Results of inquiries were likely within a couple of weeks.
He said the van was travelling with its blue light flashing, but the siren was not being sounded.
Preliminary inquiries showed four men had crossed to near the middle of the road when the van approached.
Two men ran in front of it to safety, one waited at the centre line; Mr Gibson walked or ran into its path. A witness said the impact there Mr Gibson 30m.
Senior-Sergeant Hall said it happened so quickly the officer driving had no time to stop
He said the road was virtually free of traffic, relatively straight and wide.
“It is not a narrow, winding road or anything of that nature, so I cannot say that 80 km/h is anything out of the ordinary.”
The four men crossing the road had come from a party nearby.
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Press, 3 April 1989, Page 9
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231Police van in fatal accident Press, 3 April 1989, Page 9
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