Phoenix officer in critical condition after car crash

An on-duty Phoenix police officer was hospitalized in critical condition after colliding with an oncoming vehicle as he pulled out of a department precinct on the city’s northeast edge.

The crash happened about 11:33 a.m. Thursday as the officer drove an unmarked Chevrolet Malibu out of the Phoenix Police Department’s Black Mountain Precinct, 33300 N. Cave Creek Road.

As the 53-year-old officer turned south, he collided with a northbound car, police spokesman Sgt. Armando Carbajal said.

The officer, a 26-year department veteran, remained in “critical but stable condition” Thursday evening, Carbajal said.

Additional details about his injuries and identity were not available.

At the scene, a black sedan had a crumpled hood and the driver-side door of the officer’s unmarked silver car was caved in.

Carbajal said the officer was on duty and was performing “administrative tasks” at the time of the crash. It wasn’t immediately clear what those tasks were but could have included anything from traveling to a court hearing to assisting with another investigation.

The driver of the other vehicle had minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

Investigators from the Phoenix police vehicular-homicide unit remained at the scene through the day, as is common in serious crashes, Carbajal said. In addition to the crash report, the department will conduct an internal review.

It was not immediately clear how long those reports could take.