Two people were taken to hospital after being knocked off their motorcycle by a vehicle driven by an alleged drink driver in the early hours of Saturday morning, kicking off a busy weekend for the Cook Islands Police Service which included an arrest for a historical burglary.

The 32-year-old man was arrested and remanded in custody on a drink driving charge in relation to the crash at Avana roundabout, which was called into Police at 2.39am on Saturday.

“He tested over the legal limit and will reappear to face an additional charge of careless driving causing injury,” Police spokesman Trevor Pitt said.

“The two people on the motorbike were taken to hospital by ambulance.”

The man’s breathalyser reading was unavailable. The driver would be subject to a mandatory blood analysis, Pitt said.

Police were called to a second crash a few hours later, where a car had driven into the back of a truck at Muri about 9.27am, though no charges were laid and there were “no injuries to report”, Pitt said.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man was arrested and remanded in custody in connection with a burglary which occurred on December 30.

Three drivers had their keys confiscated over the weekend.

“The forbids, I have no detail,” Pitt said. “But, the most common reasons are drivers have been consuming alcohol – not necessarily over the limit, but enough to be deemed a risk; and also young drivers still in probation – not allowed to drive after 9pm.”

Police also pursued a “noisy bike driver” whose motorcycle was found abandoned. He and the owner of the vehicle had since been identified, Pitt said.

Traffic fines were also issued to 17 people over the weekend for a variety of minor offences, Pitt said.