SINGAPORE - Two police officers were taken to hospital after being injured in pursuit of a driver who evaded a police road block in the wee hours of Friday (June 2) along Mackenzie Road.
The 43-year-old man had refused to comply with the police officer's instructions when he was stopped at the road block at 1am, the police told The Straits Times on Friday.
When police officers asked for his driving licence, he drove off and beat red lights along the way. He also drove against the flow of traffic along Portsdown Road towards Normanton Road, the police said in a news release on Friday night.
Pictures of the accident provided to Lianhe Wanbao in a report on Friday show a police car with its front smashed into a flight of stairs.
Police officers managed to detain the car driver, but he put up a violent struggle and injured two police officers.
They were taken to the National University Hospital. ST understands that their injuries were minor.
The 43-year-old driver was arrested for evading a road block, dangerous driving, driving without a licence and other driving- and suspected drug-related offences.
His 34-year- old female passenger was also arrested for suspected consumption of controlled drugs. Drug-related paraphernalia was seized from the car.
If convicted for dangerous driving, the driver can be jailed not more than 12 months and/or fined up to $3,000.
For a second or subsequent conviction, he can be jailed up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000.
If convicted of evading a road block, he can be jailed up to 12 months and/or fined not more than $5,000.
The police in their release said they conduct road blocks to deter and detect crimes, and advised the public to cooperate with police officers when approached during road blocks. Any evasion of a road block can potentially cause serious harm to other road users, said the police.
The accident comes just a day after a traffic police officer died in a traffic accident along Serangoon Road while in the course of duty.
Police investigations are ongoing.
