VENICE – A motorist who struck a traffic police officer at a checkpoint in Grisignano di Zocco (Vicenza) late last night was later intercepted by a patrol from the Venice Traffic Police near the Spinea (Venice) toll booth. Upon seeing the officers, the driver, who was the sole occupant, abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby fields, evading capture. A search for the suspect is currently underway, and the car has been impounded.
The initial incident occurred on the A4 motorway. The Padova Traffic Police had received an alert to be on the lookout for a vehicle reported stolen in Milan. While traveling at very low speed in the emergency lane, a patrol unit located the car in the Tesina service area. The vehicle appeared to be unoccupied. However, as officers exited their patrol car, a man quickly got into the stolen vehicle and sped away. The patrol leader attempted to reach and stop the man but was struck by the car. The impact threw the officer to the ground and dragged him for several meters. He was subsequently rescued, hospitalized, and is being treated for his injuries.