Crash cop bought beers at the start of shift

A Bay of Plenty police officer who crashed a patrol car through a fence while nearly five times the alcohol limit bought beers at the start of his shift.

The officer admitted two driving offences in the Whakata¯ ne District Court following an incident in Edgecumbe in April, Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Andy McGregor said.

Court documents show Andrew Rush, 38, blew a breath alcohol reading of 1204 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath – nearly five times the legal limit of 250mcg.

The Edgecumbe-based constable admitted consuming a few beers at lunch before his shift, and claimed he was pursuing another vehicle prior to the crash. The police summary of facts says on April 6 Rush was working a late shift alone in Edgecumbe and Kawerau, wearing full uniform and driving a marked patrol utility.

When he started his shift at 4pm, one of his first stops was the liquor store where he purchased four high strength beers containing 8.9 per cent alcohol.

About 8.40pm, Rush was driving on Otakiri Rd in Edgecumbe, a rural road with a speed limit of 100kmh. The speed limit reduces by half at the intersection of Te Teko Rd and Main St and at the time of the crash, the road was dry, and traffic conditions were light.

Coming to the moderate left turn, Rush was driving at speed.

He lost control of the ute and crossed onto the wrong side of the road, then left the road, narrowly missing a light pole and smashing through a fence.

Police were called by concerned locals and Rush was found in his vehicle at the crash site.

Alcohol could be smelt on his breath and a roadside test returned a positive result.

Rush told police he had a couple of beers with lunch, and he was travelling at 130kmh chasing a car, which had dangerously overtaken him.

Senior Sergeant Al Fenwick said local police were focusing on providing Rush with the support he needed to get his life back on track. He said Rush was given no special treatment through the court process but in his time in the police, had served the community well.

‘‘The police are human like the rest of us, and we make mistakes, and he’s been afforded no special treatment . . . he has appeared before the courts and has faced the same process any member of the public would. We are held to a higher standard than the general public, and it is always disappointing when we don’t reach the standard we want,’’ Fenwick said.

Rush is currently stood down from all duties and is facing an employment investigation as a result of the incident.

He pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving, and one count of driving with excess breath alcohol.

Rush was convicted and sentenced to six months’ disqualification and a $1000 fine and $2013 in reparation.

— Reporting by Whakata¯ ne

Beacon