Austin Police Officer In Critical Condition After FM 969 Crash

Austin TX

28 July, 2021

11:20 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — An Austin police officer is in critical condition after his patrol car crashed into a semi-truck in east Austin on Wednesday morning. Authorities said the crash occurred around 2:10 a.m. in the 7800 block of Farm-t0-Market Road 969 near Decker Lane. Corporal Destiny Silva, a spokesperson for the department, told reporters Wednesday the officer was responding to a priority one call service and traveling westbound on the road before the crash occurred. While driving, a semi-truck began to do a U-turn in front of the officer's car. The officer's patrol unit collided with the tractor-trailer, Silva said. Folks, I'm asking for prayers for our @Austin_Police family today. One of our officers is in bad shape after a very bad car crash. Thoughts and prayers for him and his family are very much appreciated. https://t.co/zPlU2BRMXF— Joseph Chacon (@Chief_Chacon) July 28, 2021 Silva said the officer and his patrol unit were pinned underneath the tractor-trailer. Austin-Travis County EMS, fire and police responded to the scene and conducted life-saving measures on the officer. The officer was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries and is in critical condition, she said. The police spokesperson said the driver of the semi-truck was not injured in the crash and stayed on scene. He is cooperating with authorities. It is unclear if the driver will face any charges involving this incident. Silva said the officer involved in the crash has been with the department for nine years. His identity has yet to be released at this time. "APD is a family. When someone is seriously injured like this or sick, it affects each and every one of us," she said. "We ask that you keep this officer's family, the driver of the tractor-trailer and the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department in your thoughts as we try to move through this and process this challenging time." Interim police chief Joseph Chacon said in a tweet Wednesday that he is asking for the community's prayers involving the officer who was involved in the crash. "One of our officers is in bad shape after a very bad car crash. Thoughts and prayers for him and his family are very much appreciated," the tweet said. Silva said portions of FM 969 were closed for several hours after the crash and reopened later in the morning. Police are asking anyone who may have information on the crash to please contact the department's highway enforcement for vehicular homicide hotline at 512-974-8111. RELATED COVERAGE: Man Arrested In Round Rock For Road Rage Incident Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash In North Austin Identified Austin Police Officers Cleared Of All Charges In 2019 Shooting