YPD collision
1 officer involved in crash back at work
One of the Yuma police officers injured last month when two patrol vehicles collided at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 16th Street has returned to light duty.
However, the other officer has not been cleared to return to duty and is still recuperating, according to Yuma Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Lori Franklin.
The crash happened at approximately 5:33 p.m., on July 21 as the two officers were responding to an assistance request from another officer.
“The officers were driving with lights and sirens to assist another officer involved in a foot pursuit when the collision occurred,” Franklin said.
Franklin explained that before the collision, one of the officers was driving westbound on 16th Street, while the other was driving northbound on 4th Avenue. Both officers received minor injuries as a result of the collision and were transported by Yuma Fire Department ambulances to Yuma Regional Medical Center.
What initially happened, according to Franklin, was that another officer had been dispatched to investigate a report of a suspicious person in the area of 3rd Street and 10th Avenue.
When that officer arrived on scene, the suspect took off running and a foot pursuit ensued. However, because of the crash, he was not apprehended.
“No arrest was made,” Franklin said.
Both patrol vehicles were totaled as a result of the collision and will more than likely be replaced sometime in the near future.
The collision is still under investigation.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.