A Tarrant County reveler is starting the year on the wrong side of the law after slamming into a K-9 unit on New Year's Eve. The man identified as Roger Saenz-Blandon was arrested and charged with DWI following the collision at the intersection of Jacksboro Highway and Skyline Drive in Sansom Park, a Fort Worth area suburb, as reported by NBC DFW.
Right before midnight, the police unit, sirens blaring and lights flashing, run through a green light at the busy intersection, and that's when Saenz-Blandon allegedly cuts in front turning yellow—smack, their vehicles meet. Fortunately, in a stroke of good fortune, no one was injured in the crash, including the K-9 and its handler. Both managed to get out of their battered SUV unscathed, as per FOX 4 News.
Dashcam footage from another patrol car captured the moment of the crash, marking a stark reminder of the dangers that can come with holiday celebrations when mixed with irresponsible choices behind the wheel. The Sansom Park Police Department, who had amped up patrol for the big night, found all hands on deck in response to the accident, with the chief and other surrounding agencies coming to assist as well, explained Public Information Officer Tyler Downes, per FOX 4 News.
But this wasn't the only incident to mar the festive night. Tarrant County was littered with vehicular mishaps as the clock neared midnight — MedStar emergency services scrambled to a whopping 596 calls over 30 hours this New Year's Eve, according to spokesperson Matt Zavadsky, detailing an approximate 20 percent hike in call volume compared to a regular Sunday, as per FOX 4 News.
