A Burbank Police officer responding to a call escaped serious injury when his patrol car was struck by another car on Victory Blvd. near Magnolia Blvd. late Friday night.
The officer was heading northbound on Victory Blvd., rolling to a report of a woman being assaulted in the 1700 block of N. Lincoln St. at 11:45 p.m. He was not using his red lights and siren, and had a green light at Magnolia. He had just passed through the intersection with Magnolia Blvd., when a Dodge Neon heading southbound on Victory attempted to make a left turn into the Shell gas station. The collision occurred in the number 2 lane about 75 feet north of the intersection.
Although the accident is still under investigation, it appears that the Dodge may have struck the side of the police car. The impact sent the police car partially up onto the sidewalk, where it took out two small parkway trees and one street sign. As it skidded along the curb, the police car apparently stuck a utility pole, causing the car to spin 180 degree. It ended up perpendicular to the street, resting against the fire sprinkler system pipes for the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop at 500 N. Victory Blvd.
The Dodge Neon had extensive front end damage. The two young men in the car, the driver and his passenger, are from Arizona. The Burbank Fire Department responded with Engine 15 and RA 15, but left after it was determined that neither the driver, his passenger, or the officer needed medical attention. The unidentified officer was later driven in a police car to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center to be checked out by a doctor, as standard procedure in such cases.
More than an hour after the accident, Victory Blvd. remained closed to traffic as police continued to investigate the collision. According to investigators at the scene, it appears that alcohol was not involved.
