Five police injured in Co Down car crashes

An attempt by two cars to evade a police blockade in Co Down has left five police officers injured and three people in custody…

An attempt by two cars to evade a police blockade in Co Down has left five police officers injured and three people in custody.

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland told ireland.comtwo stolen Vauxhall Cavalier cars sped towards a police vehicle checkpoint on the Kilkeel Road in Newcastle at 2.50 a.m.

The first car crashed into the sea wall. Two male occupants jumped over the wall onto the cliff face. A woman ran off before being arrested later at Annalong.

The two men were arrested with the help of Coast Guard and military personnel using powerful searchlights to find them.

The second car, a white Cavalier, collided with the crashed car. It then crashed into a police car causing whiplash for a police officer.

The other car crashed in Newcastle and the occupants have not yet been found.

Two other police officers were treated for shock, one suffered an injury to their right arm and another sustained leg and knee injuries.

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David Labanyi

David Labanyi

David Labanyi is the Head of Audience with The Irish Times