A Sacramento police officer was taken to a hospital Saturday after a downtown pursuit ended when a suspect’s vehicle hit a marked patrol car. Police said the officer’s injuries are non-life-threatening and that the driver was detained at the scene.
Officers first tried to make a traffic stop near North 11th Street and North D Street, but the vehicle failed to yield, triggering a pursuit. As officers moved to shut the chase down near 12th and C streets, they used a PIT maneuver; after that contact, the red Kia struck a patrol vehicle and the driver was taken into custody, according to KCRA.
What Police Mean By a PIT Maneuver
The PIT, or Precision Immobilization Technique, is a trained tactic in which a pursuing vehicle makes controlled contact to spin a fleeing car and bring it to a stop. Departments and training experts say the move can end dangerous chases but carries risks to drivers, officers and bystanders, and factors like electronic stability control can affect how it plays out and demand updated training, according to Police Chief Magazine.
Pursuit Crashes Keep Putting Sacramento On Edge
Sacramento has seen several pursuit-related incidents in recent weeks that left officers or residents hurt. For example, a May 13 chase ended with an officer hospitalized after being bitten during an arrest following a brief pursuit, as reported in officer hospitalized after dog bite.
Police have not released the hospitalized officer’s name or any charges against the driver. The Sacramento Police Department said it is investigating the crash and will release more details when they are available.
