WBIW.com News - state

Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana

Man Faces OWI Charge In Crash With Officer

Last updated on Tuesday, June 12, 2012

(INDIANAPOLIS) - A man was drunk when he drove into the path of police car, setting off a crash that injured the officer, another man and a child, police said.

Officers were called to the area of Washington Street and Lynhurst Drive just after 7 p.m. Sunday on a report of several hit-and-run crashes in the Burger King and Kroger parking lots.

Witnesses said the driver left the Kroger parking lot, turned onto a dead-end street and then made a U-turn, disregarding a stop sign and driving into the path of an officer who was responding to the scene.

The crash pushed the squad car into oncoming traffic, where it was struck by a pickup truck.

Jerrel Watkins, 27, was arrested Monday morning on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in serious bodily injury.

Officer Santos Cortez, who has been with the department since 2008, was last listed in stable condition at Wishard Memorial Hospital.

The driver of the truck, Mario Alfaro, 33, and his 7-year-old son suffered minor injuries.

The officer and the driver of the truck voluntarily consented to blood tests, police said.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Click here to go back to previous page