The driver of a Jeep that crashed into a police car and caused a fatal eight-car pile up on Auckland's North Shore yesterday, was a mental patient who was screaming and shouting about killing himself, say police.
Michael Roden Plimmer, aged 71, of Albany, was killed when Dutch-born Cornelis Klein's Jeep Cherokee landed on top of his car at the intersection of Rosedale and Bush Roads in Albany.
Klein (50) smiled and blew a raspberry to a friend in the public gallery when he appeared in North Shore District Court today on a charge of dangerous driving.
Klein, who wore a white gown and no shoes, limped into the dock. He was remanded in custody until next week for a psychiatric report but in the police summary of the incident, police said he was a bipolar mental patient on medication.
The summary said he chased a police patrol car with its flashing lights and siren on because he was angry it was being driven too fast and he wanted to punish the police officers.
He allegedly deliberately rammed the rear of the police car while it was stationary waiting for the lights to change at the intersection.
The Jeep then rolled on to Mr Plimmer's silver Honda car, killing him instantly.
The police patrol car was shunted 50m, hitting other cars and a van.
The police car had been responding to a 111 call from the 18-year-old daughter of Klein's former partner who was a passenger in the Jeep.
The police summary said she had been sitting in front passenger seat of the Jeep when Klein began screaming and shouting about committing suicide, she demanded to be let out and called police.
Klein followed her on foot for about 100m but returned to his Jeep and began driving again. Soon after, one of the responding police vehicles with its lights flashing and siren on, passed Klein, who made a one-fingered gesture at them and began chasing the patrol car at speeds of up to 90kmh.
After the impact, Klein crawled out of his Jeep, which was still on its roof. He had minor injuries and was taken to North Shore Hospital in an ambulance and with a police escort.
He was released into police custody and later charged with dangerous driving after he admitted ramming the police car.
He said "he wanted to punish them for passing him", the summary said.
Police said other more serious charges could follow.
The two police officers were shaken but not hurt.
