Police Struck while waiting for Tow Truck (FL)

[TowZone]

 

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) - Two crashes involving five cars, including three police cruisers, have shut down part of the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Police say an officer originally responded to a disabled car on the side of the Causeway just after 3 a.m. Saturday.

An officer who was at the scene waiting for a tow truck with his emergency lights on was rear-ended by a car just before 3:30 a.m., police say.

Two more police cruisers then responded to investigate the crash. Less than fifteen minutes after the first crash, police say another car slammed into a second officer's cruiser. The impact of the crash pushed that cruiser into the third police cruiser.

A police department spokesperson says both cruisers had their emergency lights on at the time of the second crash. The driver told officers at the scene he fell asleep behind the wheel.

Police say all three officers were hit either by the cars or by flying debris from the crashes. They were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

All westbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway are closed in the area while police investigate. Drivers headed into Pinellas County from Tampa are asked to find a different route.

Right now, there are no criminal charges being filed but the investigation into the crashes is ongoing.

The Clearwater Police Department is reminding everyone to please move over anytime you see a police car or tow truck.

 

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