By Jackson Bell, The Los Angeles Times
LA CRESCENTA, Calif. -- A patrol officer driving with his emergency lights and sirens on got trapped in his cruiser for 25 minutes early Thursday after crashing into another car, Glendale Police said.
Officer Robert William was responding to a call of an officer in need of assistance about 2:20 a.m. when he headed north on Pennsylvania Avenue near Abella Street and skidded for 200 feet before crashing into a parked car, police spokeswoman Sherri Servillo said.
Police are investigating whether a black vehicle might have caused the crash by not yielding to William, Servillo said.
“We do not know what occurred,” she said. “We don’t know if the vehicle was the cause of the impact or if he just lost control.”
Glendale firefighters had to pry off the squad car’s two passenger-side doors to get William out, authorities said. He received treatment for bruising, cuts and “soft tissue injuries,” but was later released from hospital care, she said.
“The police unit he was driving was equipped with side impact air bags and front air bags, which probably prevented serious injury to him,” Servillo said.
Police warn that motorists should always pay attention to emergency vehicles when their lights and sirens are on. Law requires civilian drivers to give emergency vehicles the right of way by pulling over to their right and stopping.
Those who fail to obey the law can be fined up to $350, Servillo said.