Cheektowaga, NY – A Buffalo police officer is in critical condition and suffering from serious head trauma after his police car was struck by a light pole that the suspects he was chasing crashed into.
Buffalo police said the incident occurred when the officer responded to a call about a white vehicle with four men with a gun inside it, WIVB reported.
The officer spotted the suspect vehicle on Crossman near Genesee Street and attempted to stop it.
The vehicle fled and the officer pursued it, WIVB reported.
The suspect vehicle went off road into Mount Cavalry cemetery, then crossed Harlem Road and slammed into a light pole.
The pole fell and struck two parked cars and the Buffalo police cruiser that had been pursuing it, WIVB reported.
The officer inside the police car was knocked unconscious.
Other Buffalo police officers who responded to the scene transported the wounded hero to ECMC’s Trauma Intensive Care Unit in a police vehicle, WIVB reported.
The suspects in the white vehicle were not injured in the crash and attempted to flee the scene, but officers caught and arrested all four of them, WGRZ reported.
The Buffalo Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit was investigating the accident and its Homicide Unit was handling the criminal investigation, WIVB reported.
Buffalo Police Captain Jeff Rinaldo said the wounded officer was in critical condition with severe head trauma and had not yet regained consciousness, WGRZ reported.
Capt. Rinaldo did not release the name of the wounded officer.
A Buffalo police officer is in critical condition following an accident that occurred about 1:05 p.m. Thursday on Harlem Road near Mafalda Drive in Cheektowaga, according to Buffalo police Capt. Jeff Rinaldo. pic.twitter.com/zCKlWH6sVB
— Harold McNeil (@HaroldMcNeilBN) June 3, 2021
Please pray for this critically injured officer. Chasing a suspect. They hit a utility pole, which landed on the officer. Fighting for his life. Let us pray for this Buffalo Police Officer and all members of law enforcement. They risk their lives everyday protecting us.
— Stefan Mychajliw (@StefanMychajliw) June 3, 2021
A Buffalo police officer is in critical condition at ECMC following an accident at around 1:30 pm Thursday on Harlem Road near Mafalda Drive in Cheektowaga. pic.twitter.com/pI1WBWA4AP
— Harold McNeil (@HaroldMcNeilBN) June 3, 2021
Buffalo Police Captain Jeff Rinaldo said the incident happened around 1pm and began near Genesee Street. The officer, whose name is not being released, is in critical condition at ECMC. pic.twitter.com/nQOp1omGfD
— Mike Baggerman (@MikeBaggerman) June 3, 2021
Cheektowaga Police still have Harlem Road blocked off. We’re waiting to hear from police about the accident that knocked a Buffalo Police officer unconscious, sending the officer to ECMC. pic.twitter.com/zZ0FvzopGp
— Marlee Tuskes (@MarleeTuskesTV) June 3, 2021
This was the scene in Cheektowaga after a Buffalo Police officer was knocked unconscious and rushed to ECMC. @MarleeTuskesTV is learning more right now. She's live with the latest starting at 4 p.m. on @news4buffalo pic.twitter.com/A9HbPuDzRw
— Kelsey Anderson (@4KelseyAnderson) June 3, 2021
We’re awaiting an update from Buffalo Police on the incident on Harlem Rd. in Cheektowaga. One BPD officer was hurt after a pole landed on his cruiser following an attempt to pull a car over. I am told several people are in custody and K-9s are looking for possible evidence @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/007X1m0uBF
— Jeff Preval (@PrevalWGRZ) June 3, 2021
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of The Police Tribune’s posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.
Holly Matkin
