Wiltshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a police car was deliberately rammed by a pickup truck in Downton during the early hours of Friday morning (April 18).
The incident occurred at 12.35am on Downton High Street, when officers approached a bright yellow recovery-style pickup truck believed to be involved in an attempted vehicle theft.
According to police, the truck was carrying two male passengers and was initially spotted due to suspicious behaviour. When officers attempted to intervene, the driver reversed at speed into the police vehicle, rendering it unusable, before fleeing eastbound toward Redlynch.
The distinctive vehicle has been described as having:
- A bright yellow body
- Two orange flashing lights
- Two rear cabin windows
- Yellow and red reflective stripes on the back
- A large T-shaped tow bar
Police believe the truck was attempting to steal a vehicle and are now urgently working to identify those involved.
A key witness may be the driver of a black car that passed the yellow truck at 12.33am, moments before the incident. Investigators are appealing for this motorist to come forward, as they may have seen the suspects or captured vital footage.
A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said:
“This was a dangerous and deliberate act that could have resulted in serious injury to our officers. We’re urging anyone with information, particularly the driver of the black vehicle, to contact us immediately.”
They added that doorbell footage, dashcam recordings, or CCTV from the area between 12.20am and 1am on Friday could be vital in tracking down the suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting crime reference 54250047263, or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
