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Motorcycle officer rushed to hospital after crash in Drexel Hill
An investigation is underway after a police officer was struck while riding his patrol motorcycle in Drexel Hill.
DREXEL HILL, Pa. - An 11-year veteran highway patrol officer is on a long road to recovery after being thrown from his motorcycle in Upper Darby Thursday morning.
Police say a 46-year-old driver went through a ‘Stop’ sign at Owen and Garrett Road before hitting the officer with his vehicle.
The officer was being helped by Good Samaritans when police arrived to take him to a local hospital, where he is being treated for broken bones in his legs.
"He’s going to be okay," said Upper Darby Police Department Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt. "He’s got a long road ahead of him."
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Police believe the driver was under the influence of a controlled substance, and tried to flee the scene after the crash.
"He walked up to the officer and realized it was an officer, then ran back to his truck," Bernhardt said. "We believe he was trying to leave."
The driver, who is in police custody, is expected to be charged with a minimum DUI, according to police.
Bernhardt says the crash has been "frustrating" for him and his department.
"Everyone is in a rush to go nowhere. Here you have someone early in the morning rush hour, going through a stop sign and hitting an officer. People have to slow down and realize stop signs and red lights are there for a reason," he said."