Two Dallas police officers were hospitalized early Saturday morning after an SUV on LBJ Freeway rammed their patrol car, officials said. The collision occurred near Forest Lane, where the officers were blocking traffic for an earlier accident scene. The driver of the SUV, identified as 24-year-old Michael Padilla, was later arrested on unrelated warrants.
According to the Dallas Police Department, the incident took place just after the stroke of midnight. The squad car, with two officers inside, was parked when it was hit by Padilla's vehicle. As reported by FOX 4 News, the officers were taken to the hospital as a precaution and have since been treated and released. There's been no word on whether additional charges will be filed against Padilla about the crash.
The officers' injuries were not specified, but they were deemed non-life-threatening. In a statement obtained by WFAA, the Dallas Police explained that the officers were taken to a local hospital as "a precaution" following the collision. They were later released after receiving treatment.
The circumstances leading to the crash remain under investigation, but what is clear is the potential peril even a stopped police vehicle can face while on the front lines of highway safety. Despite the late hour of the crash, no other injuries were reported. Further details about Padilla’s warrants or the possibility of charges resulting from the accident have not been disclosed. The ongoing investigation will aim to unravel the full story behind this dangerous encounter on one of Dallas' busiest freeways.
