NEWPORT, Del. (WTXF) - A New Castle County Police vehicle was struck by a motorist Friday morning.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. New Castle County Police were reportedly dispatched to route 141 southbound in the East Market Street area of Newport. They were responding to a reported motor vehicle accident between a fully marked New Castle County Police Patrol Tahoe and a black Chevy Equinox.
Detectives say that the patrol officer was traveling southbound on Route 141 in the left lane when he saw a vehicle approaching him from behind at an alarming speed. The officer reported that he heard the car behind him skid then felt the impact of the crash.
Officials say the impact pushed the patrol vehicle to the left causing it to collide with the concrete barrier of Route 141 southbound.
Police say the officer in the accident received a minor injury due to the crash and was treated and released from a local medical center.
The driver of the Chevrolet Equinox, 21-year-old Bryan S. Lopez, was not injured during the crash.
Lopez was later charged with Driving Under the Influence, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license.