THREE police officers were rushed to hospital yesterday morning with minor injuries sustained in a road accident that brought Honiara’s traffic to a standstill.
The accident occurred in front of the Island clothing at Point Cruz and involved two police vehicles.
Eye-witnesses say between 7am-7:30am, a police vehicle (AB4328) was travelling eastward towards the Point Cruz area when it lost control ramming into the safety island in the middle of the road ending up on the opposite side and hitting another oncoming police vehicle (G3072).
The vehicle registered AB4328 reportedly belonged to the CID department whilst the G3072 belonged to the Traffic office.
“The driver travelling east ward was going at quite a high speed when it lost control and rammed onto his colleague on the other lane,” and eye witness said.
Other eye witnesses say another car was also caught at the end of the accident after it was also hit by the police vehicle (G3072) when it tried to avoid the oncoming vehicle.
All three vehicles were partly damaged and are likely to cost thousands of dollars in repair bills.
The National Referral Hospital confirmed to the Solomon Star that three police officers were rushed to the hospital but were later discharged after they received treatment.
Some eyewitnesses alleged the driver of the AB4328 was under the influence of alcohol and was asleep that time which resulted in the vehicle ramming into the island on the middle of the road.
“It was obvious the driver lost control because he was asleep, God knows why,” one eyewitness said.
Another bystander also alleged that police have confiscated bottles of alcohol just before the media arrived at the scene.
A nurse at the hospital also told the Solomon Star that one of the police officers smelled of alcohol when he came in for treatment.
Earlier on Monday morning, another police vehicle also involved in an accident with a public vehicle opposite the Westpac Bank at Point Cruz.
Attempts to talk to Acting Commissioner Walter Kola as to what action to be taken against the officers were unsuccessful.
The Solomon Star understands investigation is underway.
By DOUGLAS MARAU
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