Banning Police Car Struck During DUI Traffic Stop: Officer Injured

BANNING, CA — A Banning police officer suffered severe injuries while conducting a DUI crash investigation, the Banning Police Department said.

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, a Banning police officer, whose name was not released, was concluding a DUI crash investigation in the 1100 block of W. Wilson Street, Lt. Brandon Smith reported. That multi-vehicle accident occurred across Susan B. Coombs School off Wilson Ave.

According to witnesses, a driver in that crash failed a sobriety test at the scene.

"During the DUI investigation, officers were using their marked patrol vehicles to block traffic for a tow truck driver at the scene," Smith said.

Then, a second driver struck one of the police SUVs, where an officer was seated inside.

"The Banning Police Officer sustained serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries because of that crash," he said.

That collision is under investigation by California Highway Patrol as it involved a Banning police officer, according to Smith.

The officer was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, and the driver who collided with the police car was not injured, and DUI was not suspected in that incident.