Cop guilty of dangerous driving

Long-serving officer clocked 214km/h as he chased teenagers too young to drive

Along-serving Greymouth police officer was yesterday convicted of dangerous driving after clocking speeds of 214km/h during a police chase involving two teenagers who were not old enough to drive.

Sergeant David Bruce Cross, 60, first appeared for sentencing in the Greymouth District Court on April 7, where he had sought a discharge without conviction.

Cross’s lawyer, Michael Vesty, said at the time that Cross hoped to continue his 30-year career in the NZ Police, and a conviction could be career limiting.

Cross had been driving a marked patrol car on July 3 last year and had alongside him a probationary officer.

In a victim impact statement the probationary officer described being scared and fearful for herself and the two young people they were pursuing, from Greymouth to Ross.

She had children the same age and had since undergone counselling for that fact alone. It was lucky no one had been killed or injured as a result of the high speeds, she said.

According to the summary of facts, about 1.38am Cross passed a vehicle travelling more slowly than usual at 65km/h on State Highway 6 south of Greymouth.

He did a U-turn and, while trying to catch up to the vehicle, accelerated to a speed of 214km/h without the use of blue and red flashing lights.

When Cross caught up to the vehicle he activated the patrol car lights and used the police radar to record the car’s speeds at up to 188km/h. The vehicle made no attempt to stop and continued south.

As both vehicles approached the Arahura Bridge, Cross manoeuvred the patrol car to straddle the centre line. He was travelling about 130km/ h at the time. The pursuit continued south of Hokitika, still travelling at speeds of 130km/h while using the police radio, radar, lights and sirens.

Cross called the police communications centre and was instructed to abandon the pursuit, but although he slowed and turned off his lights and sirens, he continued following the car, which was weaving and crossing the centre line.

Just before Ross, Cross used bright “take down” lights to slow down the car significantly by reducing visibility. When the car eventually stopped at Ross, neither of the occupants was found to be old enough to drive and both were arrested.

Judge Stephen O’Driscoll said in court yesterday that the inexperience of the two teenagers behind the wheel heightened the risks considerably.

Cross’ passenger said the speeds were “unacceptable” and there were so many “what ifs” on the night — it was only by luck that none of them eventuated.

The high-speed chase lasted 22 minutes, and Cross did not stop even when told to abandon the pursuit by police communications.

“He made an error of judgment in deciding to pursue a fleeing vehicle in circumstances where he was again trying to do the best for his community but unfortunately, he put the community at risk in driving in the manner that he did,” the judge said.

Cross was convicted and disqualified from driving for six months.