By Matt Durr
mlive.com
CLARKSTON, Mich. — A trooper with the Michigan State Police and a prisoner were injured Wednesday night when a car driven by a 16-year-old boy hit the police cruiser they were sitting in at full speed. According to the MSP, the trooper had made a traffic stop on northbound I-75 and arrested the driver for impaired driving.
The suspect was handcuffed and placed in the front passenger seat where he was then buckled into the seat. The trooper was sitting in the driver’s seat when a Dodge Durango driven by a 16-year-old boy drifted off the road and hit the police cruiser that was parked on the right shoulder, driving it into the suspect’s vehicle that was in front of the cruiser.
Both the trooper and the impaired driving suspect suffered lacerations to their face in the crash and the trooper is believed to have a broken arm. No other injuries were reported however.
Police determined the 16-year-old had fallen asleep behind the wheel and hit the cruiser without braking. Speed and impairment were not factors in the crash and the teen was taken into custody on a charge of reckless driving. He was then released into his mother’s custody.
The trooper was also in the front seat on the drivers side. The 16 year old driver of a Dodge Durango drifted onto the right shoulder and struck the patrol car. The patrol car was pushed into the prisoners car. The trooper and prisoner were transported to a local hospital. 2/ pic.twitter.com/5ICIbBziEC
— MSP Second District (@mspmetrodet) January 11, 2024
“We are very fortunate that the injuries in this crash were not more serious, or even fatal. The one message we can take from this crash is to wear your seatbelt when in the car. It will save your life,” said MSP F/Lt. Mike Shaw.
The injured trooper remains hospitalized as of Thursday morning for observation.
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