The driver of a Mini has been arrested on suspicion of drink and/or drug driving following a collision with a Police van in Sandown this evening (Thursday), which has hospitalised 3 people.
As previously reported by Island Echo, emergency services responded to the crash on Fitzroy Street, at the junction with Leed Street, at just before 20:00.
1 fire appliance from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was mobilised in the interests of scene safety, with several resources from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service also dispatched.
Police have now confirmed that their Transit cell van was on a normal patrol when the Mini seemingly failed to give way at the junction.
2 Police officers have been taken to St Mary’s Hospital as a result of the crash, as has the passenger of the Mini One.
Meanwhile, the driver of the Mini has been detained on suspicion of driving whilst under the influence. They have been booked into custody at Newport Police Station. Further details are expected to be released in due course.
Both roads have been closed and Southern Vectis buses are continuing to divert locally. The bus operator says Routes 3 and 8 towards Ryde are unable to serve the stops on Melville Street. Buses will instead divert via The Broadway to reach Station Avenue and a normal line of route.
Injuries involved (hopefully nothing serious) therefore breath tests all round then
In any road traffic accident, regardless of injury or severity, it is standard practice to breathalyse the drivers of all vehicles.
The standard of driving here really doesn’t improve, that’s three crashes in just one day! It sounds more than feasible that the mini ‘failed to give way’ here, as I’ve seen it before at this junction, and many other junctions. I’m sure the police van will have captured this incident on their CCTV. If so, and the mini driver is found to be at fault, I hope he gets the law book thrown at him, followed by a long driving ban!
It was a female driver. Why assume it was a man.
If the driver of the Mini is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, I really hope they get what’s coming to them, not just a slap on the wrist and a pathetic fine.
All drink and drug drivers are scum and should not be allowed to drive on the road.
These idiots could kill people. The sentences need changing, made more severe to reflect the crime. Currently, there is not much of a deterrent.
The Police in the van are innocent until proven guilty
Same woman seriously injured cyclist in Shanklin couple of years ago. Got away with it. Bang her up.