Police officer injured in traffic accident
A Grand Prairie police officer was injured in an early Wednesday morning traffic accident in Arlington. The officer, working off-duty, was escorting a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) work crew convoy south bound in the 3000 block of State Highway 360, near Mayfield Road.
Officer Steven Kelly, 30, was inside his squad car with the emergency lights on when a car driven by Kathleen Bower, 30, of Arlington slammed into the rear of his squad car causing extensive damage.
Bower, traveling south bound at a high rate of speed, disregarded numerous warning signs and lights when she swerved around a truck, striking the squad car.Officer Kelly was transported to Dallas Methodist Hospital for treatment of his injuries. He was later released.
Bowen was also treated at Dallas Methodist Hospital.
Sgt. Eric Hansen, Grand Prairie Police Traffic Division, said it appears alcohol was a factor in the accident. A blood sample was taken from Bowen. Pending the results of the blood-alcohol test, Arlington police plan to file Intoxication Assault charges against Bowen.
Intoxication Assault is a 3rd degree felony and carries a penalty of 2-10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine, Sgt. Hansen said.
Comments
I'm sorry that the police officer was injured and I hope the driver of the other vehicle is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. With that being said; why is an off-duty police officer using his City of Grand Prairie squad car to make money from a second job? Is that legal? Is that something that the city or the police chief has authorized? What if the other driver didn't have insurance? Who pays the cost of replacing or repairing the damaged squad car?
Posted by: david | June 12, 2008 11:12 AM