A Virginia Beach, VA, police officer was hospitalized with serious injuries after being hit by a woman driving a Pontiac who initially fled the scene of the accident but was quickly arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The crash occurred shortly before 2 am on March 14, 2012, at the intersection of Virginia Beach Boulevard and First Colonial Road.
According to WAVY-TV 10, the officer was responding to reports of shots fired at a nightclub and the at-fault driver made a left-hand turn into the side of the police cruiser. In addition to the DUI charge, the woman is charged with causing a hit-and-run accident.
VB police officer injured in accident: wavy.com
The wreck is the second in less than a week that left a local police officer badly injured. On March 8, a vehicle collided with a police motorcycle on Granby Street in Norfolk, VA. The at-fault driver in that incident was later charged with failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and possession of marijuana.
As a Virginia personal injury attorney with an office on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk border, I’m saddened by both these crashes. Police put their lives on the line every day in order to protect citizens, but they should expect to be safe from being crashed into by drivers impaired by drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, law enforcement personnel are as much at risk from drunk and drugged drivers as anyone else on the road.
I wish both officers speedy and full recoveries.
EJL