A routine patrol took a perilous turn on the Katy Freeway Sunday night when a Houston police officer's vehicle and a stalled car were struck in an accident that sent three people to the hospital, officials said.
The collision unfolded around 10 p.m. on the westbound feeder road of I-10 near Greenhouse Road. According to FOX 26 Houston, a Chevy Bolt electric vehicle had run out of charge and was stationary on the road just before an entrance ramp, prompting the officer to activate emergency equipment and block traffic behind it while waiting for a tow truck.
However, the attempt to secure the scene went awry when an oncoming BMW, driven by a fatigued driver exiting the freeway at high speed, collided with both the patrol car and the electric Chevy, according to authorities. The driver of the BMW, who reportedly mistook the police car as moving, swerved in a failed attempt to avoid the collision, the FOX 26 Houston report stated.
The impact left an officer with a gash on the back of his head, though he remained conscious and was able to walk around following the crash. The occupants of the stalled car, a driver and passenger, were also hospitalized with possible injuries. Meanwhile, the driver of the BMW stayed at the scene and cooperated with the police, showing no signs of impairment, as per CW39. Evidence at this point does not suggest intoxication as a factor in the mishap.
While the investigation into the exact cause of the crash continues. All injured parties are currently receiving medical attention, and their conditions have not been reported as life-threatening.
