An impaired driver crashed into a Michigan State Police cruiser at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Brittany Street in Eastpointe around 9:20 p.m. yesterday, according to authorities. The trooper was not responding to a call and did not have lights or sirens activated. No injuries were reported, and the driver was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated.
Trooper Uninjured; Driver Arrested
The trooper told investigators he saw the other vehicle stopped at a stop sign and began to move through the intersection when the driver "started going" and struck the passenger side of the patrol car, FOX 2 Detroit reported.
"Thankfully, our trooper was not injured in this crash," MSP Spl/Lt. Ty Howard said, adding that the collision "serves as another reminder that impaired driving puts everyone at risk."
State Law And Enforcement
Michigan law allows officers to arrest drivers at any blood-alcohol level if they show signs of impairment, and penalties increase at higher BAC thresholds, the Michigan State Police impaired-driving page explains. The agency also backs high-visibility enforcement campaigns such as "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" aimed at cutting down on impaired driving statewide.
Pattern Of Crashes
The Eastpointe collision continues a troubling run of patrol car crashes involving suspected impaired drivers this year. In March, a trooper suffered non-life-threatening injuries when an impaired driver hit his cruiser on I-96 near Dolphin, according to WILX. MSP at the time urged drivers to slow down and move over when they see emergency vehicles.
In yesterday night’s Eastpointe crash, police booked the driver on an OWI charge, FOX 2 Detroit reported. MSP reiterated that arranging a sober ride is a simple step that helps prevent roadside crashes and protects officers and other motorists.
