An officer with the Mesa police sustained critical injuries in an accident on the U.S. 60. The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 11 just before noon as per the accident reports. The officer was identified by the officials of the Arizona Department of Public Safety as Sean Stoddard.
According to the details shared by the authorities, officer Stoddard was traveling on the U.S. 60 at around 11 a.m. when he noticed that a ladder was blocking one of the lanes. The officer turned on the emergency lights and stopped his car so that he could remove the ladder.
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However, another car traveling right behind Stoddard’s vehicle collided with the patrol car before Stoddard had exited it. The sheer impact of the collision caused significant damage to Stoddard’s car. Stoddard sustained critical injuries in the collision. The driver of the other vehicle, identified as a woman, also incurred serious injuries.
Once the paramedics and first responders arrived on the scene of the accident, they had to cut away the patrol car’s door in order to rescue the injured officer. Both Stoddard and the female driver were transported to the hospital for treatment.
According to DPS, officer Stoddard’s injuries were critical but it was expected that he would be able to recover. DPS further revealed that Stoddard was an army veteran and remains a part of the Armed Forces.
Investigations into the incident are still ongoing. For now, the investigations are focused on identifying the driver who dropped the ladder onto the highway. Subsequent accident reports may also confirm whether any charges will be brought against the female driver who crashed into Stoddard’s vehicle.
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