A suspected drunk driver hit a police vehicle on Sunday morning in North Hills injuring two LA Police Department officers and heavily damaged their vehicle. Other vehicles parked nearby were also affected in the collision before the driver's car rolled to its side.
According to Los Angeles Daily News, the accident was reported at 2:30 am at 9500 block of Sepulveda Boulevard near Plummer Street. The video in the scene showed that the front of the police's SUV was severed and the airbags were deployed.
Four other cars parked in the area were hit during the incident. According to Los Angeles Times, the video also showed a pickup truck smashed to an adjacent white sedan. The two LA officers and the man driving the vehicle were injured were taken to the hospital.
Aside from the police officers and the driver, no other citizens were reported injured during the accident. No specific timeline was revealed and the name of the driver was not released. LAPD's Valley Traffic Division is currently undergoing investigation on the matter.
Earlier this month, the LAPD revealed their steps to combat vehicular accidents involving DUI drivers. According to WDRB, the LAPD set up check point areas in several areas in Los Angeles to target DUI drivers and also to monitor other traffic violations such as speeding and aggressive driving.
Because of the numerous cases of injuries and fatalities obtained due to DUI related incidents, the check points are viewed as a measure to keep the roads safer for both drivers and the pedestrians. It is also in line with the Vision Zero project that aims to eradicate traffic related collision deaths by 2025.
When drivers are caught during an incident or in check points, they are advised to seek for legal help as its consequences can be serious. Fines depending on the offense can amount up to $10,000 and/or loss of the driver's license.
