A Cincinnati police officer sustained minor injuries after her vehicle was struck on northbound Interstate 75, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred early this morning near Downtown Cincinnati at the scene of another crash the officer was investigating. “This morning a Cincinnati Police Officer was struck on I-75 while in their vehicle. While the injuries are relatively minor, this incident could have been much worse. This is a stark reminder of the dangers officers face daily,” Officer Ken Kober, president of the police union, said in a statement obtained by FOX19.
The officer, who has not been named, was inside her cruiser around 12:20 a.m. when another vehicle hit her car from the rear, seriously taking her to the hospital for her leg injuries before being released. The driver who struck the officer's cruiser also suffered injuries and was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, as per reports by Cincinnati.com.
Following the collision, the northbound lanes of I-75 were closed at Ezzard Charles Drive, causing traffic to be diverted for several hours. They were reopened by 4 a.m. after officers had responded to the initial crash at around 12:16 a.m. Sgt. Phillip Buccino with the Cincinnati Police Department detailed in an interview with WLWT.
The condition of the driver who rear-ended the police vehicle is unknown, as he is considered at fault in the crash. However, authorities confirmed that he was taken to the hospital. While the Cincinnati Police Department continues its investigation into the incident, the experience is a sobering reminder of the inherent risks law enforcement officers encounter even when performing routine tasks on the highways. Officer Kober told FOX19. The officer was quickly released from the hospital after appropriate treatment.
