Driver drags traffic cop, runs
(eastday)
Updated: 2005-08-04 09:43

Shanghai traffic authorities were searching last night for a motorist who sped away from a police stop, dragging an officer with him.

Yangpu District patrolman Xi Zhilin suffered minor knee and elbow injuries and was treated at a local hospital.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Huangxing and Zhoujiazui roads at about 2:30pm yesterday when the 36-year-old officer flagged down a black sedan for an improper lane change.

"At first the driver was cooperative," said a witness surnamed Hua. "He parked his car on the right side of the road, and after several questions, officer Xi extended his hand into the vehicle, demanding to check the driver's license."

At that moment the driver stepped on the accelerator and fled the scene, the witness said.

"But the officer hadn't pulled his arm out when the sedan sped away," Hua said.

Xi was dragged for about a meter and thrown to the ground, he said.

The vehicle then drove up a ramp to the Inner Ring Road and left the area.

The Oriental Morning Post reported that the suspect car was carrying a Shanghai-registered plate but the car owner is from out of town. The traffic authorities issued a wanted notice for the vehicle, but the driver was not identified.

Yesterday's mishap was the second recent incident in which police officers were hurt.

On Saturday night a careless driver ran into officer Wang Guorong when the policeman was investigating an accident at the intersection of Yingkou and Guoshun roads.

Wang, who suffered head injuries, was being treated last night at Changhai Hospital, and doctors said he is now out of danger.

Police said they do not know the identity of the hit-and-run motorist, who was driving a Passat.

City traffic officials admitted it is not rare for an officer to be hurt in the line of duty, though they did not release figures on the rate of police injuries.

"Such cases occur occasionally, and we have taken measures to ensure officer safety," said a traffic official surnamed Zhao. He declined to reveal details, other than to say one of the key measures is to strengthen enforcement against traffic law violators.

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