An off-duty Fort Worth police officer was charged with intoxication assault early Wednesday morning after causing a serious accident that severely injured one person.
The accident occurred just after 2 a.m. in the eastbound TEXpress lanes of Highway 121 in Hurst. The officer was not working at the time, but was driving a black SUV that is owned by the Fort Worth Police Department.
According to reports, as the officer was entering the TEXpress lane from the shoulder near North East Mall, he struck the victim’s car, which sent it spinning into traffic. It stopped in the left lane facing oncoming traffic.
It took 40 minutes for Hurst Fire Department first-responders to free the victim from his crushed vehicle before he was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital by MedStar Emergency Services. The man suffered from numerous broken bones in his hand and a broken sternum.
Police have reported that the officer had just left a retirement party for another officer when the accident happened. They suspected alcohol was involved and charged him with intoxication assault.
The Fort Worth Police Department has placed the officer on restricted duty while the Internal Affairs Unit conducts an investigation into the accident. The officer has been with the Department for 24 years and was the commander of the traffic division.
With decades of experience representing injury victims in Fort Worth and throughout Texas, our Fort Worth car accident lawyers have seen firsthand the devastation that often results from these types of collisions. If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to an intoxicated driver, do not hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer to learn more about your legal options.
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