A Memphis Police Department officer was hospitalized following a car accident at Poplar Plaza on Tuesday evening, according to authorities. While investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of Poplar Avenue and Highland Street at approximately 8:19 p.m., the officer's patrol car was involved in a collision.

Initial details of the incident emerged when a witness, who chose to remain anonymous, described seeing the officer lying on the ground post-accident. The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was quickly transported to St. Francis Hospital, and is reportedly in non-critical condition. This information was provided by WREG in a report they issued.

Action News 5 followed up with details that the crash occurred in proximity to the Poplar Plaza shopping center, a known commercial hub within the area. While additional information from the police is to be awaited, it was confirmed that the incident did not result in any critical injuries to the officer involved. 

The accident took a turn for the worse when the same officer was struck by a car during a subsequent pursuit occurring in a Kroger parking lot, part of the same plaza, as mentioned in a FOX13 Memphis report. The pursuit began just after 9 p.m. following a two-vehicle crash involving a Hyundai Elantra, which had later collided into the squad car. Despite attempts to safely exit the vehicle, the officer was struck and the Elantra fled the scene. The officer's condition was closely monitored but fortunately remained non-critical.

The Memphis Police Department is likely to continue to thoroughly investigate the sequence of events leading up to the collisions and the subsequent chase. The community awaits updates as the officer recovers, and the hunt for the driver of the Hyundai Elantra persists. The department has yet to release official statements on the current status of the investigation or any potential suspects in the incident.