Police: Teen driver on cellphone hits occupied cop car
An Oakland County sheriff’s deputy was hurt and his car was left “ not drivable” after being rear-ended by a car driven by a cellphone-distracted driver on Saturday night, police said.
The crash took place just before 7:50 p.m. Saturday on Ortonville Road in Brandon Township, according to a statement from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s deputy was making a left turn onto Long Lake Drive when hit from behind.
The officer, a 29-year-old, three-year veteran of the force, sustained leg and shoulder injuries and was transported by Star EMS to an area hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion before being released. He’ll be off work the next two to three weeks, the statement said.
His patrol car was not so fortunate and was left inoperable by the crash.
The driver of the vehicle that hit the patrol car, a 17-year-old Brandon Township resident, “was apparently distracted by operating a cell phone,” the statement said. He was unhurt by the crash, though police gave him a ticket for “failure to stop within an assured clear distance.”
Police don’t believe alcohol was a factor. Both individuals were wearing seat belts.