Early on August 22nd, a collision involving a Memphis Police Department squad car and a 2013 Kia Rio sent both the officer and a 17-year-old driver to the hospital. As Action News 5 initially reported, the accident occurred in North Memphis on Pope Street.
Further details disclosed by WREG News revealed that the crash happened at about 3:30 a.m. on the 1600 block of Pope Street. According to the investigators, the Kia Rio collided head-on with the squad car before hitting a tree and a handicap ramp belonging to a local residence. Driving the stolen car, the 17-year-old was also charged with theft of property, evading arrest, and violating curfew.
The identities of the officer and the teenager have not been released, but both individuals are expected to recover, sustaining non-critical injuries. The news, confirming their condition, was shared by Elk Valley Times which reported that the officer and the teen were taken to a local hospital and are expected to be okay.
The incident adds to ongoing concerns regarding youth involvement in auto thefts and the inherent risks of high-speed pursuits in urban settings. Charged with after the crash in the car that was suspected stolen, the teen's alleged attempt to evade arrest poses questions about the policies in place to deter juvenile crime and protect community safety.
