Two Detroit police officers were hospitalized Thursday night after a suspect fleeing a traffic stop struck them and two patrol vehicles near Wyoming Avenue and Eaton Street. Police said the collision happened around 10:36 p.m. as officers attempted to stop the vehicle, and both officers were listed in stable condition afterward.
Traffic Stop Turns Dangerous for Auto-Theft Officers
According to ClickOnDetroit, the officers were assisting the Detroit Police Department's Commercial Auto Theft Unit with the stop when the driver fled, striking two officers and two scout cars in the process. Police said the suspect fled while officers were attempting to stop the vehicle, and both injured officers were taken to a Metro Detroit hospital. The incident remains under investigation, and police cautioned that the information released so far is preliminary and subject to change.
No details about the suspect, the vehicle involved, or potential charges have been released. The Detroit Police Department said no additional information was immediately available as investigators continue piecing together what happened near Wyoming Avenue and Eaton Street.
Part of a Broader Crackdown on Auto Theft
The traffic stop that preceded Thursday's crash was tied to the department's ongoing effort to curb vehicle theft across Detroit. The station's earlier reporting on that effort noted that the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and Ram 1500 are the vehicles most frequently targeted by thieves, who often push vehicles away or break in and reprogram keys to steal them. Police have also added more cameras on freeway exit ramps, which the department said generates frequent alerts when stolen vehicles enter or travel on freeways, according to the same outlet's reporting.
A Second Recent Incident Involving Injured Officers
Thursday's crash is not the only recent case of Detroit officers being hurt on the job near a stopped vehicle. In a separate incident reported by CBS News Detroit, two Detroit officers were injured when an oncoming driver struck their patrol car head-on while it was stopped on East Seven Mile Road near Hoover Street, blocking traffic for an earlier accident. Those officers were also taken to an area hospital and reported to be in stable condition, though that crash was a distinct event from Thursday's incident near Wyoming Avenue.
How to Help the Investigation
Detroit police are asking anyone with information about Thursday's crash to contact the department's 10th Precinct Detective Unit at 313-596-1000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Tips can also be submitted through Detroit Rewards TV. Investigators have not said when they expect to release further details as the case continues to develop.
