Four Mt. Juliet Police officers were nearly struck by a distracted driver while investigating a three-car crash involving an impaired driver on I-40 Sunday morning.
The officers were investigating a crash near the 228 mile-marker at around 5 a.m. An adult male suspected of impairment was detained in the back seat of a patrol SUV
Another adult male failed to see multiple patrol vehicles and struck one of the patrol SUVs, launching it within feet of the officers and another patrol vehicle on the scene, according to Mt. Juliet Police.
The suspected impaired driver was inside the patrol SUV at the time of the second crash and experienced serious injuries. He was transported to the hospital by medics.
The distracted driver did not require medical transport.
No officers were injured during the crash.
“Motorists must always pay attention while driving. There are many distractions to a driver, but eyes must have a focus on the road ahead,” Mt. Juliet Police Chief James Hambrick said. “Our prayers will be with the injured suspect, and we hope he recovers quickly.”
Per department protocol, a third-party law enforcement agency is always called to investigate any crash involving a department police vehicle.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the scene, and Troopers are handling the crash investigation.
