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March 29, 2024

Officer investigating crash struck in hit-and-run; suspect in custody

Officer Injured in Hit-and-Run Accident

Steve Marcus

Metro Police investigate an accident scene at Spencer Street and Windmill Lane Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014. A Metro Police officer was struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run accident while conducting a vehicle accident investigation at Windmill Lane and Eastern Avenue. The suspect vehicle later crashed with another vehicle at Spencer Street.

Updated Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 | 10:29 p.m.

Officer Injured in Hit-and-Run Accident

A Metro Police crime scene analyst takes a photo during an accident scene investigation at Spencer Street and Windmill Lane Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014. A Metro Police officer was struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run accident while conducting a vehicle accident investigation at Windmill Lane and Eastern Avenue. The suspect vehicle later crashed with another vehicle at Spencer Street. Launch slideshow »

Officer struck

A Metro Police officer was struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run accident Thursday evening, and Lt. Barb Schmidt said the suspected driver is in custody.

The officer was struck while conducting a crash investigation at Windmill Lane and Eastern Avenue around 5:55 p.m. As traffic was stopped, police said, a driver went around other stopped vehicles, accelerated and hit the officer.

The officer clung to the front of the vehicle and pushed himself off it when it swerved as it headed west, police said.

The driver hit another vehicle at Spencer Street, which police say may have disabled his vehicle. The driver and a passenger fled. Metro officials did not think the crash resulted in serious injuries.

Officers soon had the passenger in custody and detained the person thought to be the driver hours later.

The officer appeared to have suffered injuries to his knees and hip that were not life-threatening, Metro said. The officer was taken to University Medical Center.

Metro credited the officer's quick thinking in pushing off from the vehicle and rolling off to the side to avoid serious injury.

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