In a tragic incident that has shocked New Zealand, a driver allegedly ran down two police officers in the early hours of New Year’s Day, resulting in the death of one officer and serious injuries to another. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. local time in Nelson, a city with a population of 55,000, shortly after the city's New Year’s Eve celebrations had ended. According to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, the driver accelerated the vehicle into the officers as they conducted a routine parking lot patrol before turning to ram a police car as well (AP News).

The officer who died, Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming, had a commendable 38-year career and was described as a “well-known and hugely respected member of the Nelson community.” Sadly, she passed away in a local hospital shortly after the accident. The second officer, whose identity has not been released, is recovering from serious injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. A third officer in the rammed vehicle suffered a concussion, and two members of the public were also injured in the chaos, one of whom intervened to assist the wounded officers.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell condemned the “cowardly attack” on the officers, emphasizing the rarity of such violence against police in New Zealand. Chambers stated, “There was, at this stage, no indication that what was about to occur would happen,” highlighting the unexpected nature of the event. The man arrested, a 32-year-old, is set to appear in court soon. This incident marks a grim reminder as the previous fatality of a police officer on duty occurred in 2020 when another officer was shot while responding to a fleeing driver (The Guardian).