A tragic incident in Nelson sees a driver run down two police officers, resulting in one death and another in serious condition
Nelson: In a shocking event, a driver hit two police officers who were on foot patrol early on New Year’s Day. Sadly, one officer died, and the other is seriously hurt.
This kind of violence against police is pretty rare in New Zealand, so it really shook the community. The police chief, Richard Chambers, shared that the driver sped into the officers while they were checking a parking lot.
After hitting the officers, the driver also rammed a police car. A 32-year-old man was arrested soon after the incident, which happened around 2 a.m.
The officer who died was Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming, a respected member of the community for 38 years. The other officer is expected to recover, but it’s still a tough situation.
Chambers called the act “senseless” and noted that there was no warning this would happen. Police Minister Mark Mitchell described the attack as cowardly, emphasizing how targeted it was.
This incident took place in downtown Nelson, just after the New Year’s Eve celebrations wrapped up. It’s a reminder of how quickly things can change, especially in a usually peaceful place.
Before this, the last police officer killed on duty was in 2020. The man charged in this case is set to appear in court soon.
