Police officer critical after being hit by stolen car
The male constable was laying road stingers when he was hit by the car. Photo: ABC News/Rachel Riga
A police officer is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a stolen car at Booval, west of Brisbane.
The male constable suffered head injuries after being struck on Brisbane Road at Booval about 5am on Thursday.
The Queensland Ambulance Service said he was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane in a critical condition.
Police said the constable was taken into surgery.
Acting Superintendent Melissa Adams said the officer was mowed down while laying road stingers to stop the stolen car.
“During that deployment, a police officer has been struck by the vehicle and sustained significant injuries — that vehicle continued travelling for a short distance and the offenders left the car,” she said.
She said the dog squad tracked a teenage boy and girl, believed to have been in the car, who were taken into custody and are assisting police with their enquiries.
“We’ll be working this crime scene very thoroughly — we have identified a couple of independent witnesses, however if anybody else witnessed this incident this morning, please contact police,” Acting Superintendent Adams said
Acting Superintendent Adams said it was difficult for police to see one of their own injured.
“We are a very close knit policing district — we look after ourselves, and our thoughts are with this officer and his family,” Acting Superintendent Adams said.
“We ask people to say a prayer for him.”
Police found the vehicle abandoned on Vowels Street.
Troy Carpenter, 52, said he heard police sirens early this morning.
“I initially disregarded it because I live on a main road and I didn’t think it was anything unusual,” he said.
“When I came out to have a look I was quite shocked to see all the police and to know that somebody has been hurt for such a ridiculous thing — it’s terrible.”
Brisbane Road remains closed at Booval and drivers are being urged to avoid the area.
Police said there were traffic diversions via McGrath Lane and Stafford Street.
This latest incident comes just 24 hours before police officers gather at North Ipswich Oval on Friday to march and remember their fallen colleagues as part of Police Remembrance Day on September 29.
