A Vienna police officer was forced to shoot at the tyres of a speeding car on Monday evening after the driver attempted to flee a check, with his wife and four-month-old daughter in the vehicle.
As officers approached, the driver suddenly accelerated, colliding with two unrelated vehicles. He then drove directly at a police officer, who was forced to leap out of the way to avoid being struck, according to a police press release.
A second officer immediately gave chase.
According to the police, the driver accelerated “massively” before crashing into a construction barrier and several traffic bollards at the junction of Wehlistraße and Friedrich-Hillegeist-Straße. The pursuing officer then brought his patrol car to a stop and fired shots at the vehicle’s tyres.
The man was only arrested after the officer used physical force. He is believed to have been under the influence of drugs, though he refused to undergo a medical examination. Further checks revealed the 32-year-old had outstanding administrative fines amounting to €33,000. He now faces multiple administrative and criminal charges.