A Minnetonka police officer was injured over the weekend when a fast-moving motorist slammed into the back of a squad car during an active traffic stop, according to police. The officer had already pulled over another driver and was sitting inside the patrol vehicle with its emergency lights activated when the high-speed vehicle struck it from behind.
Minnetonka police shared the account, along with video of the crash, on the department's official social media channel, according to CBS Minnesota. The department did not disclose the exact location of the crash, and it has not said whether the driver who caused it was cited or arrested. Officials also declined to detail the extent of the officer's injuries beyond confirming that the officer was hurt, per the station's report. It was unclear whether anyone in the other vehicle was hurt.
Police Use Crash to Reinforce Move Over Warning
Police used the incident to remind drivers of their legal obligation to move over for stopped emergency vehicles, the same report notes. Under Minnesota's move-over law, drivers on roads with two or more lanes traveling the same direction must shift a full lane away from a vehicle with flashing lights, or slow down significantly if changing lanes isn't safe, according to Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.
The statute is formally known as the Ted Foss Move Over Law, named for State Patrol Corporal Ted Foss, who was struck and killed by a passing semi-truck during a roadside traffic stop on Interstate 90 on August 31, 2000, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Standard violations carry fines exceeding $100 plus court surcharges, while crashes causing severe injury or death can expose drivers to elevated criminal charges, per MinneapoliMedia. Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths also provides information about the state's Move Over law.
Roadside Danger Amid Rising Traffic Deaths
The crash comes as roadway safety remains a concern. The incident also highlights the risks officers face during roadside traffic stops.
Minnetonka police have also been involved in an incident in which an unoccupied police vehicle was involved during a foot pursuit, an incident that triggered an independent Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation, as Hoodline previously reported.
A Department Already Focused on Road Safety
Traffic safety has been a recurring focus for Minnetonka police in recent years. In December 2024, the department spearheaded a $450,000 Highway 7 Safety Coalition initiative aimed at reducing dangerous driving behaviors and collisions along major local corridors. The department has also pursued other public-safety initiatives.
For now, key details of the weekend crash remain unknown. Minnetonka police have not said where along the roadway the collision occurred, how severely the officer was hurt, or whether the driver responsible will face citations or charges. The department's message to the public, though, was direct: when drivers see flashing lights on the shoulder, move over.
