Northfield Police Squad Vehicle Struck By SUV While Responding To Emergency Calls; 2 Injured
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota State Patrol says a Northfield police squad vehicle was involved in a crash with another vehicle while responding to emergency calls.
According to the state patrol, the incident happened just before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Highway 3 and Jefferson Parkway in Northfield.
The Northfield police squad vehicle, a 2016 Ford Explorer, was traveling northbound on the highway responding to multiple emergency medical calls when it collided in the intersection with a 2010 Toyota RAV4, which was traveling westbound on the parkway.
According to the state patrol, the squad vehicle had lights and sirens activated before the crash, and is equipped with a dash camera.
Whether or not the stop light was green or red for the other vehicle is being investigated. The stop light at the intersection is not equipped with an opticom system, which changes the lights when emergency vehicles responding to calls come through.
The driver of the Toyota was listed as 25-year-old Alex Payes, along with a passenger, a 19-year-old man. Both are from Northfield. The Northfield police squad's only occupant was the driver, 40-year-old Andrew Wierson of Northfield.
Both drivers were taken to the Northfield Hospital with injuries. The officer was treated and released.
Payes remains in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The state patrol is investigating.
