Police SUV hits occupied vehicle, tree
POTTSTOWN >> Lower Pottsgrove Police are investigating an accident involving a Pottstown Police SUV that struck an occupied vehicle and crashed into a tree.
According to a press release from Pottstown Police, an officer was responding to a call July 7 involving a juvenile disturbance when the crash occurred at the intersection of South Franklin Street and South Street.
The driver of a Mitsubishi Lancer had been proceeding through the intersection travelling south on South Franklin Street when the police unit struck it. Police said the driver of the Lancer did not have a stop sign but that the police vehicle did.
The police SUV had been travelling eastbound on South Street when it entered the intersection with its emergency lights activated. The officer entered the intersection without ensuring that it was clear, police said.
As the SUV entered the intersection, it struck the Mitsubishi Lancer on the passenger side. The police vehicle then veered to the right, leaving the road and striking a tree.
Police said that the officer driving the vehicle stated that he had been manually activating the siren intermittently as he approached the intersection but did not leave it on continuously. The driver of the Mitsubishi stated that the sirens were not activated as the police vehicle entered the intersection.
The passenger of the Mitsubishi complained of pain in his right arm following the crash. Goodwill Ambulance responded to the scene and evaluated and treated the occupants of the Mitsubishi. The officer was not injured. The police car suffered major damage following the crash and the Mitsubishi sustained damage to the front passenger side fender between the bumper and the front wheel.
Lower Pottsgrove Police were requested to investigate the accident and are continuing to do so.