Two Limerick gardaí narrowly escaped serious injury when their patrol car was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at a Garda checkpoint.
Detectives were last night still searching for the driver of the Northern Ireland-registered Fiat Punto, who fled from the scene after his car crashed into the front passenger side of the Garda car in O'Malley Park, Southill, yesterday morning.
The incident occurred at 1.15am when the vehicle failed to stop at a routine checkpoint set up in the Southill estate. The car, with three people inside, sped off in the direction of Mountain View and crossed over a green area.
A chase ensued and it is believed the driver of the car then lost control of his vehicle and crashed into another Garda car, which was patrolling the area. The driver of the car fled the scene on foot and left two injured passengers in the car.
Two uniformed gardaí, a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s, were injured when their car was hit in the front passenger side by the other vehicle.
They were taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital along with the passengers of the other car. It is understood none of the injuries suffered in the collision was serious. The two gardaí and one of the passengers were released from hospital yesterday morning.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Roxboro gardaí at 061-214340.