NZ policewoman dies in Nelson New Year car ramming

Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was killed and her colleague critically injured after a car drove at them at high speed in the city of Nelson.

Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming died after a car rammed into her and her colleague on New Year's Day. Picture: NZ Police.

The small New Zealand city of Nelson is in mourning over the death of a police officer after she and his colleague were rammed by a car on New Year’s Day.

Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming, 62, died after the car was driven at high speed at her and Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay at 2am on Wednesday while they were on foot patrol in the centre of the South Island city.

Senior Srgt Ramsay was critically injured and is being treated in hospital.

Senior Sergeant Fleming is the first police officer ever killed in the line of duty in the Nelson area, and the first female police officer killed on the job in New Zealand.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said that, completely unprovoked, the vehicle had driven towards the officers, at speed, hitting them both.

He described Senior Srgt Fleming as “a widely respected police officer with 38 years’ front line service”.

Police Association President Chris Cahill said the death of Senior Srgt Fleming, “rocks right throughout” the city’s police force.

“It really affects them and it affects their families as well,” he told NZ radio.

“They go to work every day and know there’s risk – but you don’t expect to be confronted with this level of violence.

“You’re always prepared for a level of violence, but I don’t think anyone can really prepare for when someone decides to do something like this – using a motor vehicle as a weapon like this. It’s very hard to defend yourself against and you certainly don’t expect that when you’re out just dealing with New Year’s Eve revellers.”

The driver of the vehicle was Tasered and arrested at the scene. He will appear Nelson District Court on Friday.