Police are urging individual responsibility after a spate of incidents over the weekend, including a hit-and-run in which a 70-year-old tourist was injured, receiving four stitches in her head and multiple abrasions.

A spate of road incidents, including multiple crashes and hit-and-runs, has left the understaffed police force frustrated.

Police spokesperson Trevor Pitt said some drivers lacked individual responsibility and “they need to grow up and get their act together”.

Pitt made this comment after reporting six road crashes, five domestic disputes and three thefts during the weekend.

On Saturday, a 70-year-old Australian visitor was taken to the hospital after being struck by a car near the Punanga Nui Market around 10am.

The driver of the silver sedan hatchback reportedly did not stop to provide assistance, leaving the visitor “stressed and disappointed”.

Raul Valero, resort manager for Nautilus Resort and Muri Beach Resort, said the victim, a guest, was taken to the hospital for treatment where she received four stitches to her head.

“She was walking along the side of the road near Punanga Nui Market when she was hit by a car from the side. The impact caused her to fall, hitting the back of her head and she sustained bruises to her thigh and ankle,” Valero told Cook Islands News.

“The driver of the vehicle did not stop to provide assistance. The bystanders rushed in to help her and one of our drivers took her to the hospital where she received four stitches to her head.

“It could have been worse.”

Valero said that, despite the incident, the guest was still in high spirits, but added that the experience was a “little bit of a dampener” to her Rarotonga holiday.

“She was grateful to everyone who has been really supportive but pointed out that such incidents are not good for the island.”

The police were contacted to visit her at the resort to file a report, but they insisted she go to the station to submit a report.

Valero said the guest had another day left on the island and didn’t want to ruin her holiday any further.

He filed a police report via email yesterday, including a medical report from the hospital and a photo of the vehicle involved.

Police spokesperson Pitt said there needs to be reminders that peace and security in our community start with personal responsibility.

“Mention is always made of the need for Police presence. As if we didn’t know that ourselves. It’s numbers. Sometimes, we only have two officers to attend to incidents,” Pitt said.

“Far too many drivers are being careless and/or on the road after drinking, and failing in their responsibilities to just be considerate. The reported incidents have shown how little regard some drivers have for the safety of others, and how much Rarotonga’s roads continue to reflect a culture of unlawful, poor behaviour.

“Let’s start with the need for individual responsibility, sadly lacking in some drivers. They need to grow up and get their act together.”

On Sunday morning, a grey car was found abandoned in O’oa after being involved in a crash.

Police believe the vehicle struck a tree at Karekare but continued on for several hundreds of metres before being left. The Police had not been called but suspect the crash was sometime prior to 5am Sunday morning, Pitt said.

A second crash incident was called in at 10.30am Sunday when another driver left the scene. An unknown female on a motorbike collided into the rear of a rental car near Woo’s Store at Inave, and made off.

A third suspected crash was not called in until a male with injuries had sought medical treatment. A callout to Matavera late Sunday morning revealed only an abandoned motorbike with no registration.

On early Sunday morning near Kiikii Motel, a suspected drunk motorcyclist made off after crashing by a hedge. Some debris and a can of Woodstock was found at the scene.

The remaining two crashes on Sunday included a motorcyclist who struck a dog and sustained injuries in the fall at 5.50pm in Tikioki and a motorcycle and car collided near the Vaima Restaurant in Vaimaanga at 8.18pm. The motorcyclist sustained a badly broken leg and injured shoulder. 

Police also received a complaint at 5.52pm Sunday when the driver of a white van was reportedly driving dangerously near Club Raro in Tupapa. Police also arrested the driver of the car involved in the recent power pole crash in Muri and bailed to appear in court this week. 

“He tested more than three times the legal limit for alcohol,” Pitt said.

Apart from road crashes, police attended to five domestic disputes, one of which involved an assault on a woman, and three thefts.

The theft reports involved a stolen handbag from a vehicle at the Avarua courthouse, cash stolen from a parked car at the Social Centre while tourists were swimming and theft of 40 water melons from a plantation at Tupapa.

• Additional reporting from Police Media