Yesterday morning, a suspected drunk driver collided with an Atlanta police patrol car, which had been stationed on Interstate 20 near Capitol Avenue due to an earlier accident. The crash occurred at approximately 3:42 a.m., sending the officer inside the patrol car to the hospital with injuries that were deemed non-life-threatening, according to reports from FOX 5 Atlanta.
The driver of the 2025 Toyota Camry was detained by the injured officer's colleagues after he hit the back of the police vehicle they were helping to block the third westbound lane of traffic after the previous crash, which led to the sequence of events culminating in the driver's arrest. Identified as Racine Joseph, the driver was subjected to a sobriety test by officers who noted his behavior suggested alcohol intoxication, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the incident took place around 4 a.m.
Following the arrest, Joseph faced multiple charges, including DUI less safe, following too closely, too fast for conditions, reckless driving, and violation of Georgia's Move Over Law. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for an evaluation before being moved to the Atlanta City Detention Center, as per FOX 5 Atlanta's findings.
The name of the injured officer has not yet been disclosed, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the collision, the officers involved are processing the aftermath and extend their concern for their colleague's swift recovery; both news reports did not provide information on the officer's current condition aside from the initial assessment that the injuries were not life-threatening.
