Officials: Driver crashes head-on into police vehicle, after running red light in SW Philly
SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia police officer and a civilian driver were both injured after their vehicles crashed in Southwest Philadelphia.
According to authorities, two 12th District officers watched a driver in a sedan go through a red light at South 61st Street and Kingsessing Avenue Saturday evening, about 7 p.m.
The officers made an attempt to stop the driver, a 21-year-old man, who took off eastbound on Kingsessing.
Officials say a different 12th District officer was heading west on Kingsessing Avenue, near 59th Street, when the driver hit the police officer’s vehicle head on.
The first two officers arrived at the crash scene as the 21-year-old driver was getting out of the car. They ordered him verbally several times to stop, but authorities say he refused to comply.
It was at this point the officers tried taking the man into custody, when the man reportedly punched one of the officers in the back of the head.
That officer then deployed his taser and the man fell to the ground. He got back up and, authorities say, his manner was aggressive. The officer deployed the taser again.
The officers then took the man into custody without further incident.
Medics took the officer to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and the officer was listed in stable condition.
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The driver of the sedan was taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment.
Both vehicles have heavy front-end damage. An investigation into the accident is ongoing.