By Lindsey Shelton
The Natchez Democrat, Miss.
NATCHEZ, Miss. — A 16-year-old flipped his SUV into a Natchez police car late Friday night while reportedly running from a state trooper after the teen failed to stop at a checkpoint on Martin Luther King Jr. Road.
Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop M Public Affairs Officer Rusty Boyd said the teen failed to stop at a DUI checkpoint shortly after 11 p.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Road at Old Country Club Road.
A pursuit of the teen by a trooper ended after less than a minute when the teen lost control of the Toyota 4Runner he was driving and flipped it into a Natchez police car, Boyd said. The crash happened on Martin Luther King Jr. Street near George F. West Boulevard.
Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford said the officer whose patrol car was hit reported that the teen moved into the opposite lane to go around traffic. Ford said the officer said it appeared the teen tried to swerve to miss the officer, lost control of his SUV and flipped.
Before the impact, Ford said, the officer put his car into reverse in an attempt to avoid the crash but was unsuccessful.
The teen was treated at Natchez Regional Medical Center for a cut on his forehead and hand, Ford said.
Boyd said the teen was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The officer was suffering from lower back pain Saturday, Ford said, and was going to the doctor for an examination.
The patrol car suffered major damage, Ford said, and may be totaled.
Ford said the teen told police that he ran because he did not have a driver’s license.
Boyd said he did not have information on whether the teen would face charges for the crash.
Copyright 2014 The Natchez Democrat