Glendale officer injured after patrol car struck by vehicle

PHOENIX — A Glendale officer was injured after a vehicle struck his patrol car while responding to a different incident on Sunday, three days after a Phoenix officer was fatally struck by a car.

Sgt. John Roth with the Glendale Police Department said the unidentified officer was responding to a call of an accident that escalated into a physical fight in the area of 59th and Missouri avenues around 5 p.m.

The officer was moving his patrol vehicle with his lights on to block traffic when a vehicle driving on 59th Avenue hit his front passenger door.

The officer received minor injuries and was taken to a hospital, but no further details about his injuries were released. The condition of the people in the other vehicle was not immediately known.

The investigation is ongoing.

Crash at 59th Ave. & Missouri in Glendale involving a police car. Officer was responding to a crash at the intersection when he was struck by another vehicle. Officer has serious injuries but not life threatening. Unknown on others injured and when roadway will re-open. pic.twitter.com/nqoPsw9Kyl

— John Trierweiler (@JohnTrierweiler) March 25, 2019

On Thursday, Phoenix Police Officer Paul Rutherford, 51, was responding to a separate collision on foot and was hit by a Ford Expedition while crossing Indian School Road, according to Sgt. Tommy Thompson.

Rutherford died at a nearby hospital, where he was taken in extremely critical condition.

The driver, a 40-year-old female, stayed on the scene of the crash. It was determined she was not impaired.

Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Friday that drivers need to exercise more caution when driving near emergency vehicles.

“Have your head on a swivel, pay attention, drive slowly,” she said.

“You don’t know what’s going on in the moment. We’re asking people to pay special attention.”

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