Trooper Facing Career-Ending Injury After Alleged DUI Crashes Into Him Head On

Battle Creek, MI – A Michigan state trooper was seriously injured when a driver police believed to be impaired slammed into his police vehicle head-on in Battle Creek.

The crash occurred at about 10 p.m. on Jan.17 while Michigan State Police Trooper Christopher Haywood was driving west on West Columbia Avenue near Stevens Road, MLive reported.

Michigan State Police said in a press release that a black Toyota Camry crossed the centerline of West Columbia Avenue and struck Trooper Haywood’s patrol car head-on.

Trooper Haywood was seriously injured in the wreck, MLive reported.

Michigan State Police Lieutenant DuWayne Robinson said Trooper Haywood suffered multiple fractures to his femur in the crash as well as multiple lacerations to his hands and head.

The driver of the Toyota and a passenger in that car also suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to MLive.

All three were transported by ambulance to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Michigan State Police suspect the 32-year-old driver was under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the wreck, MLive reported.

The name of the driver has not been released but authorities said he was from Kalamazoo.

Lt. Robinson said charges against the driver of the Camry were pending because authorities are waiting for lab results before they proceed, MLive reported.

The Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office also said they were waiting for the toxicology results to be available before they reviewed the case, WWMT reported.

Trooper Haywood, a 22-year veteran of the Michigan State Police, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Co-workers concerned that Trooper Haywood’s injuries are career-ending have set up a GoFundMe to assist with expenses while he heals and then undergoes extensive physical rehabilitation.