A 55-year-old Egg Harbor Township man was seriously injured Wednesday night after being struck by one of the township's own police vehicles on Ocean Heights Avenue, and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office is now investigating the crash. William Hirst, who lives in Egg Harbor Township, was hit on the roadway between Zion Road and Steelmanville Road, according to authorities.
The crash happened at approximately 8:41 p.m. Wednesday, according to wpgtalkradio.com, though NJ.com reported the time as about 8:40 p.m. The police vehicle was being driven by Officer Alexandros Doukopoulos, who rendered immediate first aid to Hirst until EMS and paramedics arrived on scene, per the wpgtalkradio.com report.
Officer Rendered Aid Before Paramedics Arrived
Hirst was taken by ambulance to AtlanticCare Regional Medical Center's Atlantic City campus for advanced medical care, the station's report states. His current condition was not immediately available, and NJ.com's account of the incident describes him only as seriously injured. Egg Harbor Township Police Chief Frederick Spano confirmed to NJ.com that Hirst was struck on Ocean Heights Avenue, but police have not said whether Doukopoulos was responding to a call at the time of the crash.
Because a sworn Egg Harbor Township police officer was behind the wheel, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office has taken over the investigation, per the same account. No details about the officer's speed, right of way, or how the collision unfolded have been released, and no charges or citations have been reported in connection with the crash.
Officer Doukopoulos's Background
Doukopoulos graduated from the Atlantic County Police Academy in September 2023, according to Daily Voice. Beyond his graduation date and his role driving the vehicle that struck Hirst, little else about the officer has been made public as the prosecutor's office continues its review of the case.
Police-involved crashes elsewhere in South Jersey have drawn scrutiny in recent months. In July 2026, a separate New Jersey crash saw a police officer's car strike a pedestrian crossing a highway during a storm, with authorities at the time citing rain, poor lighting and dark clothing as contributing factors, NJ.com reported. Separately, a Middle Township police officer was left in critical condition after being struck by a suspected impaired driver during a traffic stop in Cape May County, according to FOX 29. Neither incident is connected to Wednesday's crash involving Hirst, but both underscore the hazards facing officers and pedestrians alike on South Jersey roadways.
For now, the central facts of Wednesday's crash remain limited to what police and the prosecutor's office have confirmed: Hirst was struck and seriously hurt, an officer attended to him at the scene, and investigators are examining how the collision occurred. Hoodline will update this story as more information becomes available.
