Man On Mobility Scooter Gets In Low Speed Car Chase With NZ Police

A man on a mobility scooter has led police on a low-speed chase through the streets of Timaru in south-east New Zealand, in what can only be described as the most New Zealand news story of all time.

Double amputee Charlie Durham was filmed speeding along the footpath and then weaving in and out of traffic, all while ignoring the sirens of a police car driving along behind him.

Speaking to stuff.co.nz after the incident, Durham claimed he mistook the siren for the sound of an ice cream truck and “I didn’t want any ice cream”.

The incident was caught on video by two motorists, who also provided colour commentary.

“This is so funny,” one woman can be heard saying over the footage.

“He’s going for it. What is this old man up to?” her friend adds.

Police visited Durham’s home on Thursday and informed him he would be served with a pair of infringement notices — one for failing to stop for police, and one for driving too fast on the footpath.

“The officer identified the rider and visited his home address today [Thursday] to provide him with a written guide to safe mobility use, to initiate a conversation about safe use of his scooter,” a police spokesperson told stuff.co.nz.

“At all times, police are trying to reduce harm on the roads and that was the intention of the officer throughout.”