30/05/2026
Two of three drink-driving arrests made mid-week have involved drivers who fled the scene after causing crashes, highlighting a concerning pattern of irresponsible behaviour on our roads.
The latest hit-and-run occurred on Wednesday night on the main road near Beluga Café. The driver of a vehicle collided with the rear of another car before fleeing the scene. The vehicle was pursued and intercepted in Ruaau. Police subsequently apprehended a 72-year-old man. He was taken to Police Headquarters for evidential testing, and failing a breathalyzer, remanded in custody. He appeared before the Court yesterday.
A second arrest was made yesterday following the return of blood-alcohol analysis results from a separate hit-and-run crash in Kiikii last week. A 25-year-old man involved in the rear-end collision was arrested and charged. He is scheduled to appear before the Court next week.
A third arrest was made late last night when Traffic Police stopped a vehicle in Avatiu that was being driven without headlights. The 39-year-old driver was taken to Police Headquarters for testing and was found to have a blood-alcohol level of nearly three times the legal limit. He was subsequently remanded in custody.
Police remain committed to keeping our roads safe and continue to seek the support of the public, particularly in reporting and providing as much information as possible about hit-and-run incidents. The cooperation of the community plays a vital role in identifying offending drivers and helping ensure they are held accountable.
Road safety is a shared responsibility, and together we can help keep drunk and dangerous drivers off our roads.