Clifton Officer Injured After Car Hits Police Vehicles on Route 21
What happened
Where it happened
- Clifton, Passaic County.
What remains unclear
- Three officers were investigating an earlier crash on Route 21 North near River Road shortly before 4 a.m.
A Clifton police officer was injured and two other officers narrowly escaped when a car struck police vehicles on Route 21 and sparked a fire early Sunday, according to police.
Three officers were investigating an earlier crash on Route 21 North near River Road shortly before 4 a.m. Police vehicles were positioned in the left lane to direct drivers around that scene when a car driven by a 32-year-old Passaic man hit two police vehicles.
The crash put officers, the driver and two passengers at risk. Police said one officer suffered a head injury, while another officer jumped over a concrete barrier to avoid being struck.
The driver's car and one police vehicle caught fire, but police said the driver and both passengers escaped. The injured officer was treated at a hospital and released, while the driver and one passenger were also hospitalized.
Police charged the driver with assault by auto, driving while intoxicated and additional traffic offenses. The case will proceed on those charges, and police reported no other serious injuries.
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