Ireland: PSNI officer struck by lorry in case being treated as attempted murder
The incident happened on the Mullaghduff Road area of Cullyhanna just before 1.30pm on Friday. The officer sustained serious head injuries when the low loader truck drove into him at speed as he approached the vehicle on foot in Co Armagh.
The constable was part of a police patrol who were were travelling along the road following up enquiries linked to the overnight theft of an ATM in the Newry area.
They encountered a suspicious lorry transporting a car.
As one of the officers exited the police vehicle to speak to the driver, the lorry was driven at speed directly at the officer, striking and pinning him between the lorry and a police patrol vehicle.
The lorry then fled the scene.
Police said the officer’s colleagues rushed to help him, providing emergency first aid.
The PSNI helicopter was then used to transport the officer to hospital in Belfast.
Police are not linking the hit and run with the earlier ATM theft in Newry at this stage.
Superintendent Simon Walls said: “The constable is still undergoing medical assessment however we understand that while his injuries are serious, at this stage, they are not thought to be life threatening.
"I am sure the local community in south Armagh will join us in condemning this callous incident and in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.
"From the accounts of those at the scene, this appears to have been a deliberate act and as such we will be treating this incident as the attempted murder of a police officer.
"We are keen to locate the driver and the lorry involved, described as low loader with a white cab, a yellow bumper, a red low loader body and carrying a white or silver vehicle."
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