Shocking footage shows motorist running down policeman at breath-testing station – as elite athlete behind the wheel says he panicked because his licence was suspended
- Highly ranked triathlete pleads guilty after running down a police officer
- Aman Ace Quensier ran down Snr Const. Samuel Petts on New Year's Day 2019
- The police officer was left with serious knee injuries and abrasions from incident
- Quensier will be sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty
An elite triathlete who ran down a police officer at a breath-testing station and then sped from the scene said he panicked because he was driving when his licence was suspended.
Shocking footage tabled with the Adelaide District Court showed him driving past the testing station, forcing the police officer onto the bonnet of the car and then onto the road, before Quensier drove away with officers pursuing on foot and in a vehicle.
Aman Ace Quensier, 24, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm by dangerous driving after running over Senior Constable Samuel Petts on New Year's Day 2019 at a testing station in Adelaide's inner west.
Senior Constable Petts suffered serious knee injuries and abrasions.
Highly ranked Australian triathlete Aman Ace Quensier, 24, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide District Court to causing serious harm by dangerous driving after running over Senior Constable Samuel Petts on New Year's Day 2019 (pictured)
The officer said he still has a recurring nightmare where he is 'hooked up to the car' as it speeds away and being 'torn to shreds'.
He wrote in a victim impact statement the incident made him contemplate leaving the police force, The Advertiser reported.
The injured officer said these kinds of incidents are 'increasing' and police were not getting the support they needed.
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Quensier's lawyer Craig Caldicott described his client as a 'gifted triathlete', currently ranked 20th in the country, and a 'hard worker' who made a terrible decision in a split second and out of fear.
'As he pulled into the RBT station it immediately flashed before his eyes that he didn't have a licence,' he said.
'He panicked because he realised he was still on a suspended sentence bond.
'Mr Petts motioned him to stop and he kept driving. Mr Petts went over the front of the bonnet and tried to get the keys out of the ignition and struck Quensier in the process. He then accelerated away.'
The court was told Quensier did not know he had hit the officer until his father mentioned the news to him the following day.
Quensier is set to be sentenced by Judge Liesl Chapman on Friday.
Quensier's (pictured) lawyer said his client panicked when he realised he was being pulled over while he did not have a valid license, the court also heard he did not know he had hit the police officer until the following day
