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IMPD officer recovering after driver crashes into patrol car

IMPD officer recovering after driver crashes into patrol car

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An IMPD officer is in the hospital, after someone ran a red light Friday, slamming into the patrol car he was driving.

Now his fellow officers are praying for his recovery. 

The scene was a mangled mess of metal, with car parts strewn all over the street.​

“Our deepest regards go out to this officer’s family. We hope that he makes a full recovery from everything. Our prayers will be with him,” IMPD Officer Genae Cook said Friday.

This crash happened around 7:30 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Keystone and National avenues on the city’s south side.

​IMPD said a field training officer had just finished a run with other officers.​They were headed east on National Avenue and turned north onto Keystone. ​

“There were four other police cars in front of him. They had all entered the intersection and proceeded northbound. He was the fifth car. He had a green light, according to witnesses,” Cook said.

That’s when a blue sport-utility vehicle ran a red light and slammed into the driver’s side of the officer’s car, according to IMPD. ​

“We believe, at this time, that driver was having some type of medical issue,” Cook said. 

​IMPD has not provided details on the driver who struck the officer’s car, except to say the person was taken to an area hospital and on Friday night was listed in good condition, according to police.

The impact of the crash was so strong the officer had to be cut out of the patrol car.​ On Friday night, the injured officer was at Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, also upgraded to good condition.

The crash was also hard on the rookie officer shadowing the injured officer.

“There’s definitely an impact, especially with this officer that’s directly in front of him is a new officer. His first times on the street, he’s only been out a couple weeks and he sees this happen to his (field training officer),” Cook said.