An early morning incident on a Memphis highway led to both a police officer and a driver being hospitalized after a crash, local news outlets reported. According to Action News 5, the collision occurred when a Toyota vehicle hit a parked Memphis Police Department (MPD) cruiser that was blocking traffic on Interstate 240 at Perkins Road. The cause of the blockage remains unclear.
The officer was reportedly stationed in emergency mode to deter traffic from a section of I-240. As stated by WREG, the Memphis Police were on the scene due to another traffic accident when, the crash took place eastbound, where the Toyota struck the officer's vehicle. Both individuals experienced minor injuries and were taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment.
Further information from FOX13 Memphis shed light on the charges faced by the Toyota driver, including driving without a license, reckless driving, and driving under the influence. The incident, occurring just after 6:45 a.m., adds to concerns about impaired driving on city motorways.
Police have not released details on the officer's condition, although initial reports suggest injuries were minor. The driver responsible for the collision also sustained minor injuries, but the legal repercussions may be significant given the compounded nature of the charges, including the lack of a driver's license and the DUI offense. All three reports confirm that the collision took place while the officer was active in an official capacity, blocking a section of the interstate to manage the scene of an earlier accident.
