Policeman hurt after crash on motorcycle

A Houston Police Department motorcycle officer was injured Thursday morning after a vehicle cut him off in traffic on Interstate 45.

Although the officer was in “a lot of pain,” he was able to avoid further injury after a passerby and an off-duty firefighter blocked traffic until police responded to the scene, HPD Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner said.

The officer was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The officer, whom Finner did not identify, said his motorcycle “started vibrating” when a vehicle next to him cut him off about 5:30 a.m. on the southbound North Freeway near Main Street.

The officer, a 10-year veteran, went down and released his motorcycle on the freeway when it started vibrating to prevent any further injuries. The motorcycle slid about 500 feet, Finner said.

“When I received (this) call today, my heart dropped,” Finner said at a news conference outside the hospital, adding that initial reports indicated the officer may have been struck by an 18wheeler.

He said the driver who cut him off may not have seen the officer in traffic.

The officer also didn’t have a description of the vehicle because he was more concerned about traffic behind him, Finner said.