Three police officers escaped death following an incident where a digger brought down a power line during a routine stop along Princess Road in Suva yesterday.
Police constable Jeremaia Balemaira was electrocuted while attending to a case of dangerous driving and officers Mosese Gasaudrokadroka and Aliposo Steven narrowly escaped.
The three officers were conducting patrols as part of Operation Tatarovi II when they pursued a vehicle that was driving in a dangerous manner.
They stopped the vehicle near Zalim Street when all of a sudden a truck loaded with a digger, driven by a 43-year-old man drove past the three and the arm of the machine allegedly brought down a nearby powerline.
The power line landed on the back of Balemaira’s neck followed by what he described as a shock that ran through his body causing him to lose consciousness while the other two officers managed to jump away in the nick of time.
Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says many criticize their work and the institution but its incidents like these that show people that they are putting their lives on the line everyday to keep every Fijian safe
Meanwhile, Investigations will be looking into the negligent and reckless actions of the driver and whether he had complied with regulations when transporting heavy machinery.
The driver is being questioned at the Nausori Police Station.
