Yesterday's traffic stop on the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 67, the Marvin D. Love Freeway, turned chaotic when a passing vehicle hit a Dallas police officer and the officer's patrol SUV, authorities said. The officer and at least one motorist were taken to nearby hospitals, and all northbound lanes were shut down while emergency crews and investigators worked the scene. Dallas Police said the crash remains under investigation.
Officer struck during traffic stop
Dallas Police told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth the incident happened at about 3:52 p.m. in the 6200 block of northbound U.S. Highway 67. The officer was standing outside the patrol vehicle during a traffic stop when a passing car hit both the officer and the marked SUV. According to the department, the officer was taken to the hospital for a precautionary evaluation, and the driver of the car that struck them was also hospitalized. Officials did not immediately release the conditions of either person.
Scene and traffic
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported from above that its Texas Sky Ranger helicopter spotted at least four damaged vehicles at the scene. Those included a Dallas police SUV, a blue sedan lying on its side, and two midsize SUVs being loaded onto a tow truck. Northbound traffic between Red Bird Lane and Hampton Road stacked up fast, backing as far south as Interstate 20 to Cockrell Hill Road while crews worked to clear the wreckage and reopen the freeway.
Another close call this week; Move Over law
This marked at least the second time this week in North Texas that a passing vehicle hit a patrol unit, a worrying pattern that highlights how dangerous the shoulder can be for law enforcement. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported a July 7 crash that injured two officers when a suspected impaired driver slammed into their vehicle. The Texas Department of Public Safety notes that Texas' "Move Over or Slow Down" law requires drivers to either change lanes or slow down when approaching stopped emergency vehicles. In other words, flashing lights on the shoulder mean you are supposed to give them space.
What’s next
Dallas Police have not released additional details about the crash, and the investigation remains open. Drivers using northbound U.S. 67 should be prepared for lingering delays while tow trucks, investigators, and road crews finish clearing the scene and sorting out the chain of events that sent an officer to the hospital mid-shift.
