The California Highway Patrol is investigating a Saturday night collision involving a La Quinta police officer responding to a call with emergency lights and a pickup truck at Highway 111 and Washington Street, according to the Sheriff's Department.
The crash occurred just after 10 p.m. Nov. 16 when a La Quinta police officer was responding to another officer's call for back-up assistance near the Cliff House restaurant, Lt. David Walton of the sheriff's Thermal Station said in a statement.
The police vehicle was westbound on the 111, approaching the Washington Street intersection, Walton said.
"The police vehicle entered the intersection against a red traffic light using its emergency lights," Walton said. "A Ford Ranger pick-up truck driving south on Washington Street collided with the police vehicle at the western edge of the intersection."
The driver and passenger in the Ford pick-up were not injured, Walton said.
"The police officer complained of pain to both knees and was transported by ambulance to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital where the officer was treated and later released," Walton said. "Both vehicles involved in this collision sustained major damage and were towed from the scene."
The CHP assumed the collision investigation while traffic was diverted around the partially closed intersection for about two hours, Walton said.
Anyone with more info about the collision was urged to call La Quinta Police at (760) 863-8990, or the California Highway Patrol at (760) 772-8911.
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